Father of Indian student Neelam Shinde, injured in US accident, granted travel visa

MUMBAI: A day after the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) assured that it had taken up the matter of requesting a US visa for the family of Indian student Neelam Shinde, who met with an accident in the US and is currently in a coma in a hospital, the family said that Neelam’s father had been granted a visa.

On February 14, Indian student in the USA, Neelam Shinde, in an unfortunate turn of events, met with an accident that led her into a coma.

Neelam’s father Tanaji Shinde said, “Yes, we have got the visa. We’ll leave tomorrow as we’ve got the tickets. Her roommate told us on the 16th that the accident happened on the 14th. Right now, the Maharashtra and Central governments have given us the visa. Neelam used to talk to us, asking how everything was at home. We are feeling good, but we are waiting for her to come out of the coma. We got the visa in an emergency. We thank everyone in the government for their support”.

In Mumbai, the maternal uncle of Neelam Shinde, Sanjay Kadam said, “The accident involving Neelam Shinde happened on the 14th in the USA. She had a big injury on her legs and hands, and she was in a coma. We were trying to attain visas, but were unable to get any help. Then, the media contacted us, and the central and state governments greatly helped us. In 2 days, we were able to get the visa. We have had a follow-up with the government for the past 2-3 days”.

He added, “Her roommate had called us, and that is how we got to know. The hospital and university had written a letter to us. Since the 17th, we have been in follow-up.”

The family members thanked the State and Central government for their swift and speedy action. They further added that the media played a constructive role by highlighting their plight as they were earlier not able to get the Visa, but now with the state government and central government putting in their efforts, have got them an emergency visa to travel to the US and meet their daughter. (ANI)