On March 9, Sudiksha Konanki went missing on the beaches of the Dominican Republic. Konanki is a 20 year old college student who attends the University of Pittsburgh. According to Pitt’s website, she is said to be studying biological sciences and chemistry.
She was on vacation for spring break in the Dominican Republic accompanied by five of her other female friends. On March 6, Konanki and her friends were returning back to their hotel from a night club when they decided to stop at the beach around 4 am. A few hours later, her friends returned back to their hotel and left Konanki with a man on the beach. Konanki reportedly gave her female friends her wallet and cell phone to bring back to the hotel where they were headed.
The man who last saw Konanki before she went missing reported that he and Konanki were swimming and were caught by a big wave, after which he left her. He then claims to have thrown up before falling asleep in a beach chair. According to security sources, he returned back to the hotel around 9 am on March 6 without Konanki.
Later, the friends reported Konanki missing around 4 pm, March 6. This kicked off a search to look for Konanki. So far, she has not been found.
The Dominican Republic Civil Defense released a statement Monday saying drones, along with helicopters and teams specialized in maritime rescues, have been deployed in the search for Konanki.
Konanki’s father also told CNN reporters that he wants local authorities “to also investigate other possibilities including whether this is a case of kidnapping or human trafficking.”
Dominican Republic President Luis Abinader explains to CNN that the Dominican Republic receives “more than 11 million visitors per year” and authorities there pride themselves on being a safe tourist destination. “We are one of the safest countries, not just in Latin America, but in the world in every aspect,” Abinader told CNN.
This story of Konanki is a sad one, but it is also a testament to the dangers of venturing alone, and stresses the importance of always travelling in a group. Her story is a harsh reminder to all students travelling on spring break to always be aware of their surroundings and put safety first.
