![Kiran Shukla could not attend the funeral of Jitendra Shukla (right), who passed away on Monday due to liver failure, because of restrictions imposed on May 4 on travel from India.](https://www.americanbazaaronline.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Kiran-Shukla-and-Jitendra-Shukla.jpg)
Shukla was visiting Covid hit family in India when her husband passed away in New Jersey.
A fundraising drive has been launched to support Kiran Shukla, whose husband Jitendra Shukla passed away in a New Jersey hospital on Monday due to liver failure.
Kiran Shukla is currently stranded in India, unable to return to New Jersey to attend her husband’s funeral because of restrictions imposed by the United States on travelers from India in the aftermath of a deadly surge in Covid-19.
The GoFundMe drive, which was created by a friend of Shukla’s, Sweta Singh, says the money “will be used to support the funeral and college expense for their son,†Sam.
READ: Travel ban keeps Indian American away from husband’s funeral in US (May 11, 2021)
“Please help in whatever way possible and any contribution will help this family in such terrible [situation],†Singh writes. The page, which was created less than 24 hours ago, has already raised $30,393 of its $100,000 goal.
Kiran Shukla traveled to India in February to be with her ailing dad, who passed away last month. In India, a number of her family members tested positive.
Her husband, Jitendra Shukla, died on Monday due to liver infection.
As the American Bazaar reported earlier, Kiran Shukla is now struggling to get back to the United States to attend her husband’s funeral. But she cannot do so due to restrictions imposed by the US on May 4 on travelers from India.
READ: Indian national stuck in Green Card limbo forced to return after her husband’s death (October 21, 2019)
Shukla had been trying to fly back since her husband was hospitalized a week ago, but she could not do so as she is on an H-4 visa that’s not stamped on her passport.
Her I-539 form to extend status while one’s permanent resident case is pending is valid only till June 2021. Due to stamping requirement and the travel restrictions she was unable to be with her husband during his last moments.
Shukla was on H4-EAD and was working in a bank. But she left her job in February before traveling to India.