Indian Student in Coma After US Accident: Family Struggles for Urgent Visa

Neelam Shinde, an Indian student, has been in a coma since being hit by a four-wheeler in California on February 14. The 35-year-old from Maharashtra's Satara district is currently in the hospital's Intensive Care Unit (ICU). The police have detained the motorist who caused the accident. As legal proceedings continue, her family faces a significant obstacle in obtaining a visa to attend her during this critical period.

Her father, Tanaji Shinde, expressed the family's desperation, saying, "We learned about the accident on February 16 and have been trying for a visa since then, but we haven't received it yet." The extended wait has made worse the family's grief, as they stay thousands of miles apart, unable to provide emotional and physical support to their daughter.

Recognizing the seriousness of the issue, Nationalist Congress Party (Sharad Pawar group) MP Supriya Sule has intervened to represent the family. She has contacted External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and urged him to expedite the visa procedure. "This is an alarming issue, and we all need to come together to resolve it.

MP Supriya Sule emphasized that, despite political differences, Mr. Jaishankar has consistently been "very helpful and empathetic" in addressing concerns regarding Indian students abroad. She highlighted her positive past experiences with the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), stating, "My experience with the MEA has been extraordinarily good. They always go the extra mile to help."

In the process of contacting the MEA, MP Supriya Sule phoned the US Embassy in Mumbai, requesting quick involvement. She has also used her official X (previously Twitter) account to tag Mr. Jaishankar and call for immediate action.

Neelam Shinde's case sheds light on the bureaucratic obstacles families face when loved ones encounter emergencies abroad. The situation calls for a more efficient response system to facilitate urgent visas for families in distress. As efforts continue to bring Mr. Shinde to the US, many hope that authorities will act swiftly to ensure the family is reunited during this critical time.