The U.S. consulate in Mumbai has scheduled an emergency visa interview for the father of Nilam Shinde, a 35-year-old Indian student battling for her life following a road accident in California on Feb. 14.
Tanaji Shinde hoped for a positive outcome at the visa interview set for 9 a.m. on Friday at the U.S. consulate in Mumbai, so that he may travel to the U.S. to be by his daughter’s side, NDTV reported. “We got a call from the consulate for an interview… after everyone’s help. We hope we will get a visa,” he said.
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Earlier, the Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) had taken up the family’s request for an urgent visa with U.S. authorities. “The US side is looking into the formalities for early grant of visa for the applicant’s family,” the channel said citing sources.
Shinde, a resident of Maharashtra’s Satara district, suffered severe injuries to her head, hands, and chest in the accident and has remained in a coma since being hospitalized.
On Wednesday, NCP (SP) leader Supriya Sule requested External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar’s intervention in the matter. “Student Neelam Shinde has met with an accident in the USA and is hospitalised in a local hospital,” she posted on X. “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.”
According to Indian media reports, a person has been arrested in connection with Nilam Shinde’s accident. Her family was informed two days later by her roommate. In the wake of her condition, the hospital also sent an e-mail to the family, asking them to come to the U.S. as soon as possible.
Nilam’s uncle Anand Shinde told the media the family went to the U.S. consulate in Mumbai to get an emergency visa, but their requests were ignored and the consulate “asked us to leave.” They also did not receive any help from the state government either.
“When we went to the Mumbai visa office, no one was ready to listen to us. They ignored our repeated requests for help in getting an immediate U.S. visa, “Shinde told India Today TV. They also asked to leave the office premises or else the police would take us away. I appeal to the government to help us get a visa so that I can go see my daughter.”
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Neelam’s brother Gaurav Kadam told India Today TV the accident took place in Sacramento, California, on Feb. 14 on the “same route that she used to take while going for her daily evening walks.”
“She was hit by a vehicle from behind and the driver sped off, without even stopping to check what had happened. It is a case of hit-and-run. She suffered serious injuries on her head, hands and legs. She is currently in a coma,” he added.
Kadam said they were in constant contact with the hospital regarding Nilam’s condition. “The doctors are saying that her condition is improving slightly but remains in a coma.”