US grants urgent visa to family of Indian student in coma after accident

The US Embassy on Friday issued an urgent visa to the family of Nilam Shinde, an Indian student from Maharashtra who fell into a coma after being hit by a car in California.

Her brother and father received visas to visit the US.

This development came after the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) intervened following the family’s request for an early visa.

The family was contacted by the US consulate in Mumbai on Thursday and asked to attend a visa interview the same day.

“The politicians, including CM Devendra Fadnavis, helped us get the visa. I will accompany Neelam’s father to the US, and we will be leaving tomorrow,” Neelam’s cousin Gaurav Kadam confirmed , empasising that Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis played a key role in securing the visa.

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“A speeding car hit her on February 14. We received a call on February 16 about the accident. We have finally got the visa,” he said.

Shinde, who is in a coma, suffered severe injuries to her head, hands, legs, and chest. Multiple emergency surgeries were performed on her, and she remains in critical condition at a US hospital.

This comes a day after the Indian government contacted US authorities following her family’s request for an urgent visa.

The accident happened on February 14, and one person has been arrested. Shinde’s family was informed two days later by her roommate.

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