Maharashtra student in coma after US accident: Visa interview scheduled following India’s appeal; top updates

Neelam's family applied for a visa 48 hours after her accident, but the application has remained pending since

The family of Neelam Shinde, a 35-year-old Indian student in California who suffered critical injuries after a four-wheeler hit her on February 14, has reportedly secured a US visa interview slot on Friday. This came after the External Affairs Ministry took up the matter with the US government, which in turn assured that they were looking into the formalities for early grant of visa.

Who is Neelam Shinde and what is the case all about?

- Hailing from Satara, Maharashtra, 35-year-old Neelam Shinde, a postgraduate student at California State University, has been in a coma for over 10 days after allegedly being hit by a four-wheeler in California.

- The university, in a statement released on February 16, stated that Ms Shinde is in critical condition with an uncertain prognosis and is under intensive care

-The accident reportedly took place in Sacramento, California. Her family alleged that it was a hit-and-run case, with the driver hitting her from behind and fleeing the spot without even checking what happened.

- A person has reportedly been arrested in connection with the accident, while Neelam's family learned about the incident two days later from her roommate, who also hails from Maharashtra, according to an India Today report.

- Neelam's family applied for a visa 48 hours after her accident, but the application has remained pending since.

-Her family, in an interview with NDTV, confirmed that they received a US visa appointment at 9 amon Friday, February 28. Earlier, they said that the Mumbai visa office had ignored their requests for an immediate US visa.

-Earlier today, sources revealed that the MEA took up the matter with the US and put forward the family’s request for urgent visas.

- Earlier on Wednesday, NCP (SP) leader Supriya Sule urged External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Indian Embassy in the US to help Neelam Shinde's father, Tanaji Shinde in getting US visa.

“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 and requires assistance. Requesting Hon. @DrSJaishankar Ji, @meaMADAD, and @IndianEmbassyUS to kindly look into the matter and help,” she wrote on X.