Missing student Sudiksha Konanki, 20, feared to have drowned on spring break as cops quiz man last seen with her
A MISSING college student who suddenly vanished during a spring break trip to the Dominican Republic is feared to have drowned.
Sudiksha Konanki, 20, was seen on the beach near the Riu Republica resort in Punta Cana just after 4am on Thursday morning, according to security footage.
She was reported missing approximately 12 hours later by her friends, sparking an urgent search.
Search and rescue teams in the Dominican Republic have combed the sea and searched other areas including bays and bushes.
Officials have told ABC News they believe Konanki, a University of Pittsburgh student, drowned.
Cops believe she and one other person were caught by a big wave.
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Police said that five women and a man left the beach at around 5:55am on Thursday morning.
But, Konanki, from India, and another man stayed on the beach.
The man was reportedly seen leaving the beach hours later, but there was no sight of Konanki, per CNN.
He is now being quizzed by cops as part of their probe into her disappearance.
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He reportedly left the beach just before 10am.
It's not known if he is a student at the University of Pittsburgh.
The student was last seen wearing big earrings, and a metal anklet on her right leg.
She was wearing yellow and steel bracelets on her right hand, and a beaded bracelet on her left hand.
Konanki arrived in the Dominican Republic on March 3 with five other people.
Her pals have not yet been quizzed by officers.
Cops in Loudoun County, Virginia, are disputing the claims made by officials in the Caribbean country.
They claim that there's "no evidence" that Konanki drowned.
They suspect that the officials in the Dominican Republic came to the conclusion because it was her last known location.
Her dad, Subbarayudu, revealed she was about to start pre-med studies in Pittsburgh.
"She’s ambitious. She wanted to pursue a career in medicine," he told CNN.
He revealed that she had ambitions to be a doctor.
Subbarayudu slammed cops for "only looking in the water."
"I want them to also investigate other possibilities including whether this is a case of kidnapping or human trafficking," he said.
US officials urge spring breakers to exercise caution in the Dominican Republic.
A Level 2 advisory was issued in June 2024.
Officials have warned violent crime is a "concern" throughout the entire island, according to the State Department.
Resorts tend to be better policed than cities like Santo Domingo.
Americans have been warned to be aware of their surroundings and to avoid showing signs of wealth.
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Tourists should not wear expensive jewelry when out and about.
And, they have been encouraged to follow advice from their resort.
