The disappearance of Sudiksha Konanki, a 20-year-old Indian-origin student from the University of Pittsburgh, has gripped authorities and her family as rescue teams scour the Dominican Republic’s Bávaro coast. Konanki, a junior studying biological sciences and chemistry, vanished during a spring break trip with five friends on March 6, 2025. Last seen at 4:50 a.m. on a beach near the Riu Republica Resort in Punta Cana, she was captured on surveillance footage in a brown bikini, wearing distinctive jewelry. Her friends reported her missing later that day, sparking an international search effort.

Details remain murky. Konanki was reportedly with others until around 5:55 a.m., when five women and a man left the beach. She allegedly stayed behind with a young man, who departed alone at 9:55 a.m. By the time her absence was noted at 4 p.m., she was gone. Dominican authorities launched a full-scale search on March 8, deploying drones, helicopters, boats, divers, and canines. The operation, involving the National Emergency System, Civil Defense, Police, and Navy, has yet to yield results.

Speculation abounds. Three Dominican officials suggested to ABC News that Konanki may have drowned, citing a report that she entered the water with another person and was possibly swept away by a wave. However, Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Thomas Julia cautioned that no evidence confirms this theory, leaving open possibilities of accident or foul play. The Indian Embassy, U.S. State Department, and FBI are aiding the investigation, while Konanki’s parents, from Virginia, have joined the effort on-site.

As the search enters its fourth day, the Pitt community and Konanki’s loved ones anxiously await answers. Her disappearance underscores the risks of tourist hotspots and the challenges of cross-border investigations, with hope fading but determination holding strong.