SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Diya TV) — Neelam Shinde, a 35-year-old student from Satara, Maharashtra, remains in a coma following a hit-and-run accident on February 14. Shinde, a Master of Science student at California State University, suffered severe injuries and is currently hospitalized at UC Davis Medical Center in Sacramento.
The accident occurred while Shinde was out for an evening walk. She sustained multiple fractures and critical head injuries, necessitating emergency brain surgery. Despite medical intervention, she remains on life support and is unable to communicate.
Her father, Tanaji Shinde, had been trying to get an emergency visa by her side. The family faced a delay first and was informed that the earliest available visa appointment was in 2026. This prompted NCP Member of Parliament Supriya Sule to intervene. On February 26, Sule appealed on social media, tagging External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar and the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), urging expedited assistance.
Responding to the appeal, the MEA engaged with U.S. authorities to facilitate the visa process. Consequently, the U.S. Embassy in Mumbai scheduled an emergency visa interview for Tanaji Shinde on February 28. Following the interview, the embassy granted the visa, allowing him to travel to the United States to be with his daughter during this critical period.
The Sacramento Police Department arrested 58-year-old Lawrence Gallow on February 19 in connection with the incident. Gallow allegedly fled the scene after his vehicle struck Shinde.
