Thu Feb 27 09:26:00 UTC 2025: ## Indian Student in Coma After US Accident: Family Faces Visa Delays
**Sacramento, CA –** Nilam Shinde, a 24-year-old Indian Master of Science student at California State University, remains in a coma after a serious four-wheeler accident on February 14th. The accident resulted in multiple fractures and required emergency brain surgery. Her family’s desperate plea for US visas to travel to her bedside has been met with significant delays, sparking outrage and prompting intervention from Indian officials.
Shinde’s family applied for visas 48 hours after the accident, but the earliest available appointment is now scheduled for 2026, according to her uncle, Kadam Shinde. The family claims the US government has been unresponsive despite the urgent nature of the situation.
The Indian External Affairs Ministry’s Americas Division has reportedly contacted the US government, questioning the delay in processing what are typically expedited medical emergency visas. Sources indicate that while such visas exist, limited slots and required documentation may be contributing to the delay. Shinde’s father is crucial in making medical decisions for his daughter, who is intubated and unable to communicate.
The accident is under investigation, with the driver in custody. However, the family’s absence presents legal challenges to the case’s progression.
NCP MP Supriya Sule has publicly highlighted Shinde’s plight and the family’s distress, calling for urgent intervention from the Indian government. The Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis’ office has since contacted the family to offer support.
The university has confirmed Shinde’s critical condition and uncertain prognosis, adding its voice to calls for expedited visa approvals. The situation underscores the challenges faced by families seeking to access urgent medical care for loved ones abroad.
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