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Indian student in coma after car hits her in US
The driver has since been arrested

Indian student in coma after car hits her in US

Feb 27, 2025
12:34 pm

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

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.