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The family has sought the Centre’s help in getting visa, citing the urgency of the situation. The Indian student met with an accident in California.
Indian student meets with accident in US (Photo: X)
An Indian student studying in the United States was allegedly hit by a four-wheeler in California over 10 days ago and has been in a coma since.
The parents of the student, Neelam Shinde (35) who hails from Maharashtra’s Satara, have sought the Centre’s assistance in getting a visa to the US.
The accident took place on February 14, after which Neelam was admitted to the ICU of a local hospital. The police have arrested the driver.
Family Seeks Centre’s Help For Urgent Visa
Neelam has been in the US for four years and is currently a final-year student.
Tanaji Shinde, father of the student, said that the family came to know about the accident on February 16 and has been attempting to get a visa since then. “But we haven’t got it yet,” he said.
The family said that Neelam suffered head injuries besides hand and leg fractures.
Her uncle, Sanjay Kadam, told NDTV that after the accident, the police rushed her to the hospital, and the information was shared with the family by her roommates on February 16. “They told us that she has met with a huge accident,” Kadam said.
He further said that the hospital administration took permission from the family to carry out an operation on her brain. “She is in a coma right now, and we need to be there,” the student’s uncle said.
He said that the hospital has been providing the family with her daily health updates.
Kadam said that they have been attempting to book slots for visas at the passport office, however, they aren’t able to as the next available slot is for 2026.
Supriya Sule Echoes Family’s Request To Jaishankar
NCP (SP) MP Supriya Sule sought External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar’s help in getting the Shinde family a visa.
“This is an alarming issue, and we all need to get together and help resolve it,” Sule said.
Student Neelam Shinde has met with an accident in the USA and is hospitalized in a local hospital. Her father, Tanaji Shinde, from Satara, Maharashtra, India, urgently needs to visit his daughter due to a medical emergency. Tanaji Shinde has applied for an urgent visa to the USA…— Supriya Sule (@supriya_sule) February 26, 2025
The NCP SP leader said that she has been in touch with the affected family and assured them of the resolution of the problem.
Noting her “political differences” with Jaishankar, who is in the BJP, Sule said that he is “very helpful and empathetic” whenever the matter pertains to Indian students abroad.
“My experience with the MEA has been extraordinarily very very good. They always go the extra mile to help,” she said, adding that she has also approached the US Embassy in Mumbai for assistance.
