US Grants Urgent Visa To Neelam Shinde’s Family On Indian Govt’s Request, Know Why?

New York: The United States embassy on Friday has finally granted an emergency visa to the family of an Indian student, Neelam Shinde, who went into coma after a road accident in California. Neelam is battling for life.

According to reports, the family will leave for the US on Saturday.

“I received a phone call from her roommate on February 16. However, she didn’t tell me about the accident. Later, she informed Neelam’s uncle about it. She is still in a coma. However, her condition has improved slightly. We came here (to the embassy). They took our interview and granted visas in half an hour. We will leave (for the US) tomorrow (Saturday),” Tanhaji Shinde told PTI.

Earlier, the ministry of external affairs (MEA) had taken up with the US authorities, urging them to issue an urgent visa for the family of the Indian student.

Who is Neelam Shinde and what happened?

Neelam Shinde from Maharashtra’s Satara suffered injuries in a road accident on February 14. She has been in a coma at a hospital since then. Shinde is a post-graduate student at the California State University. The student was hit from behind by the vehicle. She suffered injuries in both arms and legs. She had to undergo emergency brain surgery as well. US police officials have arrested a man who hit her with his car in San Francisco and then fled the scene, reported NDTV. The accused has been identified as 58-year-old Lawrence Gallows.

Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) leader Supriya Sule had earlier flagged the case on Wednesday. “Student Neelam Shinde has met with an accident in the USA and is hospitalised in a local hospital,” the NCP MP had mentioned in a post on X. “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 had added.