OFFICIALS searching for missing college student Sudiksha Konanki say they believe she may have drowned during a spring break trip to the Dominican Republic.

The 20-year-old student was last seen on a beach in Punta Cana on March 6, 2025, and was reported missing several hours later – here’s everything we know about the search so far.

Who is Sudiksha Konanki?

Sudiksha Konanki, who hails from Chantilly, Virginia, is a student at the University of Pittsburgh.

Prior to this, she studied Science and Technology at Thomas Jefferson High School.

At the time of her disappearance, she was on a trip with five other friends to celebrate Spring Break.

She arrived in the Dominican Republic on March 3.

The last security footage captured shows the student on a beach near the Riu Republica resort in Punta Cana in the early hours of the morning on Thursday, March 6.

She was wearing a brown bikini, large hoop earrings, a metal anklet on her leg, yellow and steel bracelets on her right hand, and a beaded bracelet on her left hand.

She has also been described as 5ft 3in, with black hair and brown eyes.

Urgent search

Concerned friends reported Sudiksha Konanki missing around 12 hours later.

A spokesperson told 13 News Now: “Our office was contacted on Thursday evening about a missing female from Loudoun County who was with a group of other people traveling in the Dominican Republic, Punta Cana specifically.”

After a report was made, a search and rescue force began scouring the area where the student was last seen.

A message shared on social media read: “The Orange Search and Rescue Unit, along with other institutions, worked from early Saturday hours, trying to find the whereabouts of the young woman, Sudiksha Konanki, without success.”

The search resumed the following day and teams have since combed the sea and scoured other areas including bays and bushes.

Cops fears

On March 10, 2025, officials told ABC News that they believe Sudiksha Konanki is feared to have drowned.

Investigating officers now believe that the 20-year-old and one other individual were caught by a large wave.

Cops report that five women and one man left the beach at around 5.55 am on the morning of March 6, however, Konanki and another man remained at the location.

The man was reportedly seen leaving the beach just before 10am, but there was no sight of the student, CNN reports.

He is now being quizzed by cops as part of the investigation into her disappearance.

US cops disputing the claims

Officers in Loudoun County, Virginia, have since disputed the claims and say that there is ”no evidence” of drowning.

They suspect the conclusion was made because it was her last known location.

Her dad, Subbarayudu, has also spoken out and has slammed officials for ”only looking in the water.”

He said: ”I want them to also investigate other possibilities including whether this is a case of kidnapping or human trafficking.”