India: Lakshmi Leaves Intensive Care
Updated:15:23, Tuesday November 13, 2007

Two-year-old Indian girl Lakshmi has made her first public appearance since having surgery to remove four extra limbs.

Lakshmi after her operationThe toddler was seen swathed in blankets and lying on her father's lap after leaving the Bangalore hospital's intensive care unit.

A week ago doctors undertook a risky 24-hour operation to remove the extra limbs she was born with.

Lakshmi's eight limbs had led some in her village to revere her as an incarnation of the four-armed goddess she was named after.

Looking healthy and alert, Lakshmi had both of her legs in casts while her arms were free.

Her doctors said they were encouraged by her progress and said she was responding well enough to treatment to leave intensive care.

Chief surgeon Dr Sharan Patil said: "She is coping very well. Lakshmi is safe at the moment."

Lakshmi was born joined at the pelvis to a twin that stopped developing in their mother's womb.