Family Of Neelam Shinde, Maharashtra Woman In Coma After California Crash, Gets US Visa

Last Updated:February 28, 2025, 10:42 IST

The family of Neelam Shinde had sought an urgent visa to travel to the US. Ministry of External Affairs took up the matter with the US side on Thursday.

Neelam Shinde's family granted US visa (Photo: X)

The United States Embassy on Friday granted an urgent visa to the family of Neelam Shinde, a Maharashtra woman who was hit by a four-wheeler in California, pushing her into a state of a coma.

This comes after the Ministry of External Affairs, upon appeal by the family for an early visa, took up the matter with the US on Thursday. The family had got a call from the US Embassy in Mumbai to appear for a visa interview today.

Neelam, who has been living in the US for four years, was hit by a four-wheeler on February 14 in California, after which she was admitted to UC Davis Health Hospital where she underwent brain surgery. She has been in a coma since.

Neelam’s Family To Travel To US On Saturday

The father and cousin of the victim have been granted the visa, after which they expressed gratitude to the central, state governments and NCP-SP MP Supriya Sule for their assistance in the matter.

Tanaji Shinde, Neelam’s father, said that they will be leaving 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," he said.

Gaurav Kadam, Neelam’s cousin, thanked the government for their help in getting the visa.

“A speeding car hit her on 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," he said.

Family’s Struggle For US Visa

The family had come to know about the accident on February 16 and had since been making attempts to get the visa. Their attempts failed, as the next available slot for the visa appointment at the passport office was in 2026. It was then when the family urged the central government for help in getting them an urgent visa to enable them to travel to the US to see the ailing daughter.

She had sustained multiple serious injuries, including in the head, chest, and hand and leg fracture. She went into a coma due to a blow to her chest, the family earlier said.

Supriya Sule’s Intervention

NCP-SP leader Supriya Sule intervened in the matter and took it up to External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar. She said that Jaishankar is “very empathetic" whenever it comes to the Indian students abroad. She said that her experience with the MEA has been “extraordinarily very very good" and the Ministry has gone “extra mile to help" the Indians living overseas.

She was in touch with the family, assuring them of a quick resolution to their problem.

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