35-year-old Indian student in coma after accident in US, family requests urgent visa

Mumbai: A 35-year-old Indian student, Neelam Shinde, has been in a coma following a severe road accident in the US earlier this month.

Hailing from Maharashtra, Shinde's family is urgently seeking assistance from the Centre for expedited visa approval to visit her.

Shinde, a resident of Satara district in Maharashtra, was reportedly struck by a four-wheeler in California on February 14. The driver involved in the incident has been arrested by the authorities. Following the incident, she was admitted to the ICU at a local hospital. 

Her father, Tanaji Shinde, expressed his frustration to NDTV as he revealed that the family was informed about the accident on February 16 and has been trying to secure a visa since then, but they have not yet received approval. 

In a show of support, NCP (SP) MP Supriya Sule also took to social media, calling on External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and others to provide urgent assistance in this matter. She posted a message on X, highlighting the family’s dire need for help.

"Neelam Shinde, a student in the US, was injured in the accident and is receiving treatment in a local hospital. Her father, Tanaji Shinde, urgently needs to travel to the US due to the medical emergency. He has applied for an urgent visa but requires assistance. The family is requesting help from Hon. @DrSJaishankar Ji, @meaMADAD, and @IndianEmbassyUS to urgently address the matter and provide support," Sule wrote on her social media account.