Indian Student In Coma After US Accident, Family Seeks Urgent Visa

The family of an Indian student lying in coma in the US has made a desperate appeal to the Centre for a visa to be with her. Nilam Shinde, 35, is in a critical state after an accident in California on February 14. Her father in Maharashtra's Satara has been trying to get a visa since then.

Nilam Shinde suffered fractures and injuries to her chest and head after a four-wheeler hit her. Her family learnt of the accident two days later. The hospital sought permission to operate on her brain, according to the family.

"We got to know about the accident on February 16 and have been trying for a visa since then. But we haven't got it yet," her father, Tanaji Shinde, said.

NCP (SP) MP Supriya Sule has posted in support of the family and has requested External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar's help to get Ms Shinde's father a visa, tagging him in her X post.

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

"This is an alarming issue and we all need to get together and help resolve it. I have been engaged with the family and assuring them that this will be resolved," Ms Sule told NDTV.

She also said she may have "political differences" with Mr Jaishankar, a BJP leader, but he is "very helpful and empathetic" whenever it comes to the issue of Indian students abroad.

"My experience with the MEA (the Ministry of External Affairs) has been extraordinarily very very good. They always go the extra mile to help" Ms Sule said, adding that she has also reached out to the US Embassy in Mumbai.

According to Ms Shinde's family, the crash left her hands and legs fractured.

"The police admitted her to the hospital and her roommates informed us on February 16. They told us that she's met with a huge accident," her uncle, Sanjay Kadam, told NDTV.

"They (the hospital administration) took our permission to operate on her brain. She is in a coma right now and we need to be there," he added.

The hospital has been giving her health updates daily, Mr Kadam said.

He also said they have been trying to book slots for visas at the passport office, but the next slot is for the next year.

Ms Shinde, a Master of Science student, has been in the US for four years and is in her final year.