Indian student in coma after car hits her in US
What's the story
The family of an Indian student has sought help from the government for a visa after their daughter was allegedly hit by a four-wheeler in California, leaving her in a state of coma. Nilam Shinde, 35, suffered fractures and injuries to her chest and head when the car hit her 10 days ago. The driver has since been arrested.
Accident
Accident happened on February 14
Neelam was admitted to a local hospital's intensive care unit (ICU) following the accident on February 14. Tanaji Shinde, the student's father, however, stated that the family learned about the accident only on February 16 and has been struggling to obtain a visa since then. "But we haven't got it yet," he said.
Surgery
She is in a coma right now
After she was admitted, her uncle said that the hospital management sought permission from her family to operate on her brain. "She is in a coma right now, and we need to be there," the student's uncle told NDTV. He also stated that they had attempted to schedule visa appointments with the passport office, but the next available slot is only for 2026.
Family
Her family is from Satara
Nilam has been in the US for four years and is in her final year. Her family is from Maharashtra's Satara. NCP (SP) MP Supriya Sule, who is also from the same state, has posted in support of the family and has asked External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar to help her get a visa. "We all need to get together and help resolve it."
Twitter Post
Read her post here
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
Interview
Visa interview scheduled for Friday
Following the plea, the US has granted her father an interview for an emergency visa at the US consulate in Mumbai at 9:00am on Friday. "We got a call from the consulate for an interview... after everyone's help. We hope we will get a visa," the father told NDTV. Her brother thanked Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, his deputies, and Sule for the help.