The family of a missing University of Pittsburgh student fears she may have been abducted while vacationing in the Dominican Republic.
Sudiksha Konanki, a 20-year-old pre-med student, was on a beach near Riu Republica Resort in Punta Cana on Wednesday night (March 5) with a group of six others.
As most of the group left, she and one other person remained on the beach into the early hours of Thursday (March 6), according to three Dominican officials who spoke to ABC News.
A police investigative report cited by the outlet suggests that the pair later entered the water, where they may have been pulled away by a strong wave.
Local outlet Listin Diario reported that Konanki was seen swimming with the man before being spotted walking alone along the shoreline in a brown bikini.
Investigators have since questioned both the man and her friends to verify his account of what happened. However, it remains unclear whether he was part of her University of Pittsburgh travel group.
Authorities now suspect that Konanki was caught in a powerful current while swimming.
The missing student's father, Subbarayudu Konanki, is unconvinced by the drowning theory and has formally requested Dominican authorities expand their investigation.
"It’s four days, and if she was in the water, she would likely have been strewn to shore," he told WTOP. "She’s not found, so we’re asking them to investigate multiple options, like kidnapping or abduction."
The distraught father flew from Virginia to Punta Cana with his wife and two family friends as soon as he realized his daughter was missing.
Once there, they filed a criminal complaint urging Dominican authorities to expand their investigation beyond an accidental drowning.
The complaint states that officials should “take immediate steps to investigate not only the possibility of an accidental drowning, but also the possibility of a kidnapping or foul play".
Her family also noted that Konanki’s personal belongings - including her phone and wallet- were left with her friends, which they say is unusual, as she always carried her phone.
Adding to their concerns, her father revealed to CNN that his daughter initially told friends she was going to a party but later ended up on the beach with "some other guys they met at the resort".
"After that, her friends came back after some time, and my daughter did not come back, did not show up from the beach," he said.
Surveillance footage reportedly captured Konanki and others near the beach shortly before she disappeared. Her friends reported her missing around 4PM on Thursday - roughly 12 hours after she was last seen - when they realized she had not returned to her room.
Authorities have since deployed helicopters, drones, and ground search teams to scour the coastline, nearby bays, and wooded areas.
"They searched using helicopters and other tools. They also searched in the nearby bay, bushes, and trees. They went multiple times around the same areas," her father said.
Multiple agencies, including the FBI, DEA, Homeland Security Investigations, and the University of Pittsburgh police, are assisting Dominican authorities in the search. The Embassy of India, as Konanki is an Indian national, has also taken the lead on the ground.
Konanki’s loved ones have turned to social media in a desperate bid for information, pleading for assistance from anyone in the area.
A missing persons poster shared by a family friend reads: “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.”
Meanwhile, the University of Pittsburgh remains in close contact with her family. "We have offered our full support in their efforts to find her and bring her home safely," school spokesperson Jared Stonesifer told PEOPLE.