Maharashtra Student in Coma After US Accident, Family Desperately Awaits Visa Approval
Neelam Shinde, a 24-year-old student from Maharashtra, is fighting for her life in a California hospital after a devastating car accident on February 14. The incident has left her in a coma with severe injuries, including fractures in her hands and legs, as well as critical damage to her head and chest. Despite the urgency of the situation, her father, Tanaji Shinde, has been unable to secure a US visa to be by her side, as the earliest available appointment is not until next year.
The accident occurred when another vehicle collided with Neelam’s car, leaving her with life-threatening injuries. Local police rushed her to the hospital, where she remains unconscious. Authorities have arrested a suspect in connection with the crash, but the focus now is on Neelam’s recovery and her family’s desperate plea for assistance.
Neelam, who has been studying in California for the past four years, was alone at the time of the accident. Her family in Maharashtra was informed of the incident two days later by her roommate. Doctors have since requested her family’s presence to make critical medical decisions, including the possibility of brain surgery. The hospital has been providing daily updates on her condition, but the absence of her family has added to the emotional toll.
The situation has become even more heartbreaking for the Shinde family, as Neelam’s mother recently passed away. With no immediate support system in the US, her father has been tirelessly seeking help from the Indian government to expedite his visa process. The family has reached out many officials but has yet to receive any concrete assistance.
In a bid to draw attention to the urgency of the matter, NCP(SP) leader Supriya Sule has appealed to External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar to intervene and fast-track the visa process. “Neelam’s father needs to be with her immediately. Every moment counts, and we cannot afford delays in such critical situations,” Sule stated.
Student Neelam Shinde has met with an accident in the USA and is hospitalized 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…
— Supriya Sule (@supriya_sule) February 26, 2025
As the Shinde family waits in anguish, their hope rests on the swift action of authorities to bring them together during this unimaginably difficult time.
