bkhote,
It had happened to me once (I think 2000) while flying out to India.
Once you have the card with you and you are in the flight, there is no-one you can return it to(Tried at stopovers but did not help).
I had just left it in my passport and when doing immigration check while returning, the officer just took it out and kept it and stamped the new one and gave it to me. No questions asked.
In case they ask, I guess you can always say what happened.
I had also asked our attorney while in India and they had also said it is no big deal..
Only thing is it was before sept11..
Thanks..