ꦛAfter several days of appeals, the US Embassy issued an urgent visa on Friday to the family of Neelam Shinde, a woman from Maharashtra who fell into a coma after being hit by a four-wheeler in California, reports suggest.
♎This follows the Ministry of External Affairs' (MEA) intervention, prompted by the family's appeal for an urgent visa.
🦂On Thursday, the MEA took up the matter with the US authorities, leading to a call from the US Embassy in Mumbai, inviting the family to appear for a visa interview today.
🏅According to reports, Neelam, who has been living in the US for four years, met with an accident on February 14, 2025. She was admitted to UC Davis Health Hospital, where she underwent brain surgery. She has been in a coma since then.
🔥Reports also state that Neelam Shinde was a postgraduate student at California State University.
Neelam's Family To Fly US On Saturday After Visa Approval
The father and cousin of Neelam Shinde have been granted visas. They have expressed thanks to the central and state governments, as well as MP Supriya Sule, for their help, reported ANI.
🅺Neelam's father, Tanaji Shinde, said they will leave for the US tomorrow.
"We have got the visa, and we will be going (to the US) tomorrow. Both the Maharashtra and Central governments heard us, and we got the visa... When CM Devendra Fadnavis came to know about the incident, he helped us get the visa. Everyone, including Supriya Sule, helped us..." Tanaji said, as quoted by ANI.
Talking to ANI🌱, Neelam's cousin, Gaurav Kadam, expressed gratitude to the government for assisting with the visa.
♑Gaurav said, "...A speeding car hit her on the 14th (February). We received a call on February 16 about the accident... We have finally got the visa. The politicians, including CM Devendra Fadnavis, helped us get the visa. I will accompany Neelam's father to the US, and we will be going tomorrow..."
The Intervention Of Supriya Sule
NCP leader Supriya Sule ꧋stepped in to help Neelam Shinde's family, taking their case to MEA. Sule praised Jaishankar for being very understanding and supportive of Indian students abroad.
🐠Sule wrote on microblogging website X, "Student Neelam Shinde has met with an accident in the USA and is hospitalised 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 and requires assistance."
