US embassy grants visa to family of Indian student injured in accident in California

Mumbai: The United States consulate here has granted a visa to the family members of Indian student Neelam Shinde who suffered serious injuries in a road accident in California and is undergoing treatment, her relatives said on Friday.

Shinde is still in a coma at a hospital in San Francisco, but her condition has slightly improved, her father said.

A day before, the Ministry of External Affairs had taken up with the US authorities the family’s request for an urgent visa.

Tanaji Shinde, Neelam’s father, told news agency that they learnt from the doctors that her condition had improved.

“I received a phone call from her roommate on February 16. However, she didn’t tell me about the accident. Later, she informed Neelam’s uncle about it. Neelam is

still in a coma, but her condition has improved slightly,” he said.

“We went to the embassy today (in Mumbai). They interviewed us and granted visa within half an hour. We will leave for the US tomorrow. Both the Union and Maharashtra governments helped us a lot. The media also helped us,” Shinde said.

“My daughter is in a coma, we can’t do much. I only hope she gets well soon,” he added.

Yogesh Kadam, Neelam’s uncle, told news agency that she met with the accident on February 14, but they learnt about it only two days later.

Family members were in the process of booking flight tickets, and they will leave for the US as soon as possible, he said.

They had a telephonic conversation with the doctors on Thursday evening, and were told that her condition was stable, Kadam said.