"Lakshmi and Poonam spent a good two hours together. Lakshmi responded to her mother's touch immediately and acknowledged her presence, holding her hand throughout," Chief Orthopaedic Surgeon Dr Sharan Patil, who lead the team that carried out the complex surgery at superspeciality Sparsh Hospital, said.

"It was a very precious and emotional moment for Poonam, who as a mother, underwent a lot of turmoil till the surgery was completed to see her daughter respond to her touch," he said.

"It is however difficult to predict when we will shift Lakshmi out of the ICU. It will take some more time," he added.

Patil said the two-year-old Lakshmi had ‘tolerated her oral feeds -- water and a little milk. There is no vomiting, which is a positive sign’.