Visa office asked us to leave: Father of Indian student battling for life in US
NEW DELHI, FEB 27 : Anand Shinde, the father of student Neelam Shinde, who is currently battling for her life at a hospital in the US, claimed that the visa office in Mumbai ignored their requests for an immediate American visa and the authorities instead “asked us to leave”.
While speaking to India Today TV, Anand Shinde, a resident of Satara district, on Thursday also said that he did not receive any help from the state government either, despite his desperate appeal to be by his daughter’s side.
“When we went to the Mumbai visa office, no one was ready to listen to us. They ignored our repeated requests for help in getting an immediate US visa. They also asked to leave the office premises or else the police would take us away. I appeal to the government to help us get a visa so that I can go see my daughter,” he said.
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Meanwhile, sources said today that the Centre has formally reached out to the US government to help the Shinde family aqcuire an American visa.
Also speaking to India Today TV, Neelam’s brother Gaurav Kadam said the accident took place in Sacramento, California, on February 14 on the “same route that she used to take while going for her daily evening walks”.
“She was hit by a vehicle from behind and the driver sped off, without even stopping to check what had happened. It is a case of hit-and-run. She suffered serious injuries on her head, hands and legs. She is currenly in a coma,” he added.
According to information, a person has been arrested in connection with the accident and Neelam’s family was informed of the accident two days later by her roommate, who is also from Maharashtra.
She had to undergo immediate surgery due to the head injury. In the wake of her condition, the hospital sent an e-mail to the family, asking them to come to the US as soon as possible.
Kadam went on to say that they were in constant contact with the hospital regarding Neelam’s condition, but also criticised the fact that there were no slots for an appointment to apply for an immediate visa.
“Due to this, we had been facing a lot of difficulties. We had no option to book an appointment. The doctors are saying that her condition is improving slightly but remains in a coma,” he told India Today TV.
Speaking to the media earlier, Neelam’s uncle said the family went to the passport office to get an immediate visa and also approached Union Minister Murlidhar Mohol, former MP Shriniwas Patil, and former MLA Balasaheb Patil (both from Satara).
“But they (family) were left in disappointment. There has been no help from the government till date,” he added.
On Wednesday, NCP (SP) Supriya Sule requested External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar’s intervention in the matter.
Tagging Jaishankar and the External Affairs Ministry in a tweet on Wednesday, Sule said, “Student Neelam Shinde has met with an accident in the USA and is hospitalised in a local hospital.”Her father, Tanaji Shinde, from Satara, Maharashtra, India, urgently needs to visit his daughter due to a medical emergency. Tanaji Shinde has applied for an urgent visa to the USA and requires assistance.”
-PTI
