The US Embassy has granted a visa to the family of Indian student Neelam Shinde, who has been in a coma after she met with an accident. The Maharashtra-based family will board the next flight to US on Saturday, February 29. Shinde is a final year student studying at an American university, met with an accident in California after a car hit her.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Thursday requested that the US grant an urgent visa to the family of an Indian student. It was also reported that Neelam's father sought help from the PM Narendra Modi-led Central government to obtain visas.
While talking to the news agency PTI, Neelam's father Tanhaji Shinde said that he received a phone call from the roommate on February 16 about the accident. He said the US embassy in Mumbai took an interview and granted a Visa in half an hour.
"I received a phone call from her roommate on February 16. However, she didn't tell me about the accident. Later, she informed Neelam's uncle about it. She is still in coma, however, her condition has improved slightly. We came here (to the embassy)," Neelam father Tanhaji Shinde said.
"They took our interview and granted Visa in half an hour. We will leave (for the US) tomorrow. Both the Cental and Maharashtra government helped us a lot. The media also helped us. My daughter is in coma, we can't do much. I just wish she gets well soon," he added.
Neelam Shinde is a resident of Satara district in Maharashtra and met with an accident of February 14 in California. She suffered serious head injuries and fractures on her hand and leg. Police arrested the car driver.
Gaurav Kadam, Neelam's cousin, said, "...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..."
"Neelam sustained major injuries, and she is in coma. The central govt and state govt did a good job, and we have now got the Visa. Earlier, we were trying to book a slot (at the US Consulate) via agents, but then this news reached the govt through the media, and the govt helped us... We request the Indian govt that the process of Emergency Visa should be eased," said Neelam's uncle Sanjay Kadam.