A 20-year-old college student who went missing after going for an early morning beach walk in the Dominican Republic may have drowned, according to reports.
University of Pittsburgh junior Sudiksha Konanki — a resident of Virginia’s Loudoun County — was last seen on Thursday, March 6, while walking on a beach at Riu Republica Resort in Punta Cana, according to the Dominican Civil Defense and a missing poster shared on social media. She was on a spring break trip, the poster stated.
On Monday, March 10, ABC News reported that Konanki had been walking on the beach with six people on Wednesday, March 5, and cited three Dominican officials involved in the investigation.
Most of the group had gone back to the hotel during the night, but Konanki had stayed on the beach with one other person, the outlet added, citing a Dominican Republic investigative police report.
Konanki is believed to have drowned in the ocean after being caught by a big wave when she and the other person went for a swim, ABC News stated.
Local outlet Listin Diario reported that the missing woman was last seen on video surveillance cameras at around 4:15 a.m. local time on Thursday, March 6.
The student — who is a citizen of India — was traveling with a group of six female Pittsburgh students, including one other Loudoun County resident, a spokesperson for the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO) previously told PEOPLE in a statement.
The search for Konanki began in the early hours of Saturday, March 8, according to the Dominican Civil Defense. Authorities then resumed the search at 6 a.m. local time on Sunday, March 9, employing drones and helicopters from the country’s armed forces, the agency stated in an update on Instagram alongside footage of the beach search.
The LCSO said that, upon being notified of Konanki’s disappearance on Thursday evening, the agency immediately followed up with federal and state law enforcement officials, as well as contacts in the Dominican Republic. The Embassy of India in the country has “taken the lead” on the ground, the agency said.
A missing poster shared by someone who identified themselves as a friend of Konanki’s parents read, “We need your help to get the word out! If you are in the area or can help with the search, or if you have any information that could lead to her whereabouts, please reach out.”
“The more people who know, the better the chances we can bring her home safely,” the caption concluded.
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The college junior is 5 foot 3 inches tall, has black hair and brown eyes and was last seen wearing a brown bikini, round earrings, an anklet and several bracelets, per the missing poster.
Konanki’s friends who were with her around the time she went missing have been questioned by police, but haven’t been charged with anything as of yet, reported ABC News, citing officials.
The Dominican Republic National Police, the U.S. Department of State, the Embassy of India in the U.S. and the Dominican Republic and the LCSO didn’t immediately respond when contacted by PEOPLE for additional information.
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