Search underway for Sudiksha Konanki, missing student, in Dominican Republic

(NewsNation) — The United States is sending federal personnel to the Dominican Republic to locate missing University of Pittsburgh student Sudiksha Konanki.

Konanki, 20, went missing while on a spring break trip with friends in Punta Cana during the early hours of Thursday.

A resident of Ashburn, Virginia, Konanki was last seen on Mar. 6 at 4:50 a.m. while walking on the beach at Riu Republica Resort, which is just north of Punta Cana in the La Altagracia district.

Sudiksha Konanki disappears on spring break with friends

According to the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office, Konanki was last seen wearing a brown bikini, big round earrings, a metal designer anklet on her right leg, yellow and steel bracelets on her right hand, and a multicolored beaded bracelet on her left hand.

Konanki is a citizen of India and a permanent U.S. resident. She was one of six female University of Pittsburgh students traveling together for Spring Break. According to the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office, the Indian embassy in the Dominican Republic has led the search efforts, along with state, federal and on-the-ground law enforcement.

The Dominican Civil Defense said it, and a search and rescue unit, has been working since Saturday to locate Konanki. Drones and helicopters are also being used in the search.

“It is our understanding that the US is deploying considerable federal assets to locate the missing female, supporting the Dominican National Police,” the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office said.

Interviews underway after University of Pittsburgh student goes missing

The public prosecutor’s office did interview Konanki’s friends. Police also spoke with a man who was allegedly at the beach around the same time as Konanki and are trying to verify his story.

On Sunday, RIU Hotels released a statement, saying, in part, “From the moment her absence was reported, we have been working closely with the local authorities, including the police and the navy, to conduct a thorough search.”

Hotel officials also said that they have created an internal communications channel so that all employees across the five Punta Cana hotels can share any information they have with hotel leaders and police, according to NBC News.

State Department issues travel advisory for Dominican Republic

The U.S. State Department has issued a Level 2 travel advisory for the Dominican Republic, warning of violent crime, including armed robbery, homicide and sexual assault.

Loudoun County Sheriff Mike Chapman told NewsNation his department is “leaving no stone unturned” and has reached out to her parents, who are likely traveling to the Dominican Republic. Meanwhile, the University of Pittsburgh is in contact with Konanki’s family and is offering full support in efforts to locate her.

Authorities remain concerned about the lack of information on Konanki’s whereabouts, while her travel companions are expected to return to the U.S. on Monday after speaking with Dominican officials.

Thomas Julia, the sheriff’s office spokesperson, told NBC News, “Right now, it runs the gamut from something accidental to foul play. It is all at this point under consideration. Nothing’s been ruled out.”

Anyone with information regarding her whereabouts is urged to contact the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office at 703-777-1021.