Neelam Shinde: Family Struggles for US Visa as Indian Student Battles for Life

The family of Neelam Shinde, an Indian student critically injured in a hit-and-run accident in the US, is struggling to secure an emergency visa to be by her side. Her father, Anand Shinde, has accused the Mumbai visa office of ignoring their repeated pleas for immediate assistance, stating that officials even asked them to leave the premises.

Family Struggles for US Visa as Indian Student Battles for Life

“When we went to the Mumbai visa office, no one was ready to listen. They ignored our repeated requests and told us to leave, or else the police would take action. I appeal to the government to help us get a visa so I can see my daughter,” Shinde told India Today TV.

Authorities Ignored Urgent Pleas, Says Father; Centre Seeks US Assistance

Neelam, a resident of Maharashtra’s Satara district, met with an accident on February 14 in Sacramento, California. Her brother, Gaurav Kadam, shared that she was on her usual evening walk when a speeding vehicle hit her from behind. The driver fled the scene without stopping, leaving her critically injured. She sustained severe head, hand, and leg injuries and is currently in a coma.

Doctors performed immediate surgery due to the head injury, and the hospital sent an urgent email to her family, requesting them to travel to the US as soon as possible. However, despite their desperate efforts, the family has been unable to secure an emergency visa due to the unavailability of appointment slots.

Kadam stated that they have been in regular contact with the hospital, which reports slight improvements in Neelam’s condition, though she remains unconscious. Meanwhile, authorities in the US have arrested a suspect in connection with the hit-and-run case.

Sources now confirm that the Indian government has reached out to US officials to expedite the visa process for the Shinde family. However, Neelam’s relatives claim they received no support from local leaders or the Maharashtra state government despite multiple appeals.