A University of Pittsburgh student named Sudiksha Konanki went missing in the Dominican Republic last week. She was last seen walking on the beach outside the RIU Republica Resort in Punta Cana. The resort had experienced a power outage just hours before Konanki vanished. The outage lasted for approximately 22 hours and was restored less than two hours before she disappeared. However, RIU Hotels clarified that the power outage had been resolved before Konanki went missing and the two events were not related.
The Dominican Republic, which currently has a State Department Level 2 travel advisory, experiences almost daily blackouts in certain areas that can last for more than 10 hours. The RIU Republica Hotel, where Konanki was staying, faced a power outage that affected its guests. The hotel staff worked to resolve the issue quickly and restore all services to the guests. Despite this, guests expressed concerns regarding the power and water outage, as well as other safety issues at the resort. Several recent Google reviews also highlighted problems with power and water at the resort.
Konanki was reportedly walking with a young man just before she vanished, according to the country’s national police force. Several guests at the resort have expressed their dissatisfaction with the conditions at the RIU Republica, including power and water issues. Some guests described their stay at the resort as chaotic and inconvenient due to the lack of electricity and water. There were also safety concerns raised by guests, such as the lack of lights on the beach during power outages.
Despite the challenges faced at the RIU Republica Resort, guests noted that the staff were accommodating and tried to make them comfortable during the issues. Some guests reported using bottled water to brush their teeth in their hotel rooms and relying on outlets in common areas to charge their phones due to the power outage. The resort had red flags on the beach warning about strong currents and big waves during the outages, making the beach unsafe for guests at night.
The FBI and Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office in Virginia are involved in the search for Konanki, and all the friends she was traveling with have been located. The investigation includes a review of surveillance video, telephone records, and interviews with anyone who may have seen Konanki before she went missing. The authorities caution against drawing unsubstantiated conclusions and are committed to conducting a thorough investigation. Anyone with information is urged to contact the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office.
Overall, the disappearance of Sudiksha Konanki in the Dominican Republic has raised concerns about the safety and security of tourists at the RIU Republica Resort and in the country in general. The power outage experienced by the resort has added to the challenges faced by guests, along with other safety issues. The investigation into Konanki’s disappearance is ongoing, and authorities are working to determine the circumstances surrounding her vanishing.
