Search for Missing Student Sudiksha Konanki Enters Crucial Phase

The search for Sudiksha Konanki, a University of Pittsburgh student who vanished during a spring break trip, is now two weeks in progress, with her family and the Dominican authorities working tirelessly to locate her.

The 20-year-old was last observed at a resort around 4 AM on March 6, reportedly heading toward the beach with friends. Authorities are treating her disappearance as a missing persons case with both drowning and foul play being considered.

Sudiksha, who is studying biology and chemistry, was vacationing with five female friends when she was last seen on surveillance footage walking towards the beach. After her group returned to the hotel, she reportedly remained by the shore with Joshua Riibe, a fellow student from Minnesota, who is now under scrutiny due to his proximity at the time of her disappearance. Dominican President Luis Abinader stated that witnesses reported a large wave striking them while they were at the beach.

Joshua Riibe's family has publicly expressed their concerns, urging for transparency in the investigation and emphasizing the need for fairness and due process as all parties navigate this distressing situation.

Search operations have escalated, with authorities deploying drones and utilizing video footage in their efforts. Dominican police report that they have not detected any signs of foul play or violence at the beach, and the search is ongoing in both aquatic and terrestrial areas.

The University of Pittsburgh has confirmed that they are collaborating with various federal agencies, including the FBI and Department of Homeland Security, to assist in efforts to find Sudiksha.

In light of the situation, Interpol has also issued a global alert categorized as a yellow notice, aiming to assist in the search for missing persons amid suspicions of kidnappings or unexplained disappearances.