TL;DR: Neelam Shinde, a 35-year-old student from Maharashtra, is in a coma after a hit-and-run accident in California. Her family is desperately seeking urgent visas to be by her side.
Hey folks, have you heard about this heart-wrenching incident? 😢 Neelam Shinde, a 35-year-old student hailing from Maharashtra's Satara district, is currently battling for her life in a US hospital after a tragic hit-and-run accident. On February 14, while she was out for an evening walk in California, a vehicle struck her from behind, leaving her with severe injuries to her arms, legs, head, and chest. The impact was so severe that Neelam has now slipped into a coma.
What's even more distressing is that her family wasn't informed immediately. They got the devastating news two days later, on February 16, through her roommates and the hospital. Since then, her father, Tanaji Shinde, has been making frantic efforts to secure a visa to reach his daughter. Despite applying for an urgent visa, the process has been agonizingly slow. "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," Tanaji expressed his frustration.
In a bid to expedite the process, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) MP Supriya Sule took to social media, tagging External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, seeking his intervention. She highlighted the urgency, stating that Tanaji needs to be with his daughter due to the medical emergency.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has acknowledged the situation and has reportedly taken up the family's request with US authorities. The US side is currently looking into the formalities for the early grant of visas for Neelam's family.
This incident sheds light on the challenges faced by families of accident victims abroad, especially when bureaucratic hurdles delay their presence during critical times. It's a stark reminder of the need for more streamlined processes to assist families in such dire situations.
At MediaFx, we stand in solidarity with Neelam and her family. We urge the authorities to expedite the visa process, ensuring that no family is kept apart during such critical times. It's imperative that systems are in place to support the working class, ensuring equality and swift action in times of crisis.
