A family from Maharashtra has made an urgent appeal to the Union Government for a visa to travel to the United States, where their 35-year-old daughter, Nilam Shinde, is in coma following a severe accident in California.
Shinde, a Master of Science student in her final year, was critically injured on February 14 when she was struck by a four-wheeler. She sustained multiple fractures and serious injuries to her chest and head.
Her condition remains critical, requiring immediate brain surgery, and the hospital contacted her family for permission to proceed with the operation.
The family’s ordeal began on February 16 when they were informed of the accident by Shinde’s roommates. Since then, her father, Tanaji Shinde, has been desperately trying to secure a visa to be by her side. However, despite the urgency of the situation, he has been unable to obtain one.
“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 told a news outlet.
Shinde’s uncle, Sanjay Kadam, highlighted the challenges they have faced in securing an appointment. “We have been trying to book slots, but the earliest available date is next year,” he said.
Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) MP from Baramati, Supriya Sule, has stepped in to support the family. She has reached out to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, urging swift intervention to expedite the visa process.
Sule also took to the social media platform X (formerly Twitter) to call for urgent action.
Speaking to a news outlet, she said, “This is an alarming issue, and we all need to come together to resolve it. I have been in constant touch with the family, assuring them that this will be sorted out.”
Despite her party’s political differences with the central government, Sule praised Jaishankar’s responsiveness, acknowledging the Ministry of External Affairs’ efforts to assist Indian citizens abroad. “My experience with the MEA has been extraordinarily good. They always go the extra mile to help,” she added.
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