The gut-wrenching story of a Maharashtrian student who met with an accident in the US is shaking the nation. As she lies in a coma, her family faced heartbreaking delays in securing a visa to be by her side. 35-year old Neelam Shinde, who hails from Maharashtra’s Satara was allegedly hit by a four-wheeler in California over 10 days ago and has been in a coma since. However, After several days of desperate appeals, the US Embassy has granted a visa to the family of Neelam on Friday morning. Reports suggest that the family will be taking the next flight out to the US today.
Who Is Neelam Shinde?
Neelam Shinde is a final year Master of Science(MS) student at California State University and has been living in the US for the last 4 years. Various reports suggest that she met with an accident with a car while walking on the road and is in a coma at California’s UC Davis Medical Center in Sacramento. She suffered severe injuries in her arms, legs, and head, and a major injury in her chest which doctors believe to be the reason for her coma stage. The family alleged that it was a case of hit-and-run case as the car hit the Satara native from behind, leading to serious injuries. Her family urgently sought a visa to travel to the US and be by her side. However, their request was delayed for over a week. With the intervention of the MEA, the US has now granted an emergency visa.
A PTI report said that “The MEA has taken up the matter with the US. The US side is looking into the formalities for early grant of visa for the applicant’s family.”
How Did It Come To Light?
Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) leader Supriya Sule flagged the case on Wednesday.
“Student Neelam Shinde has met with an accident in the USA and is hospitalised in a local hospital,” she said in a post on X.
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
“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 and requires assistance,” Sule said.
Neelam Shinde’s family trying for a visa since February 16
Neelam Shinde’s family got to know about the accident on February 16, two days after it happened. They have been trying for a visa to the US ever since. NDTV report quoted Neelam’s father Tanaji Shinde saying, “We got to know about the accident on February 16 and have been trying for a visa since then. But we haven’t got it yet.”
According to the family, they last spoke to their daughter on February 12, two days before the tragic accident put her in a coma.
