The 17-year-old girl, who had undergone an intense seven-hour surgery after being attacked by a stalker, was taken off the ventilator on Saturday, officials of Yashoda Hospital in Hyderabad’s Malakpet said. Although the surgery by a team of at least five specialists was completed on Friday, the team feared infection due to the rusty sickle used to attack the minor.

“The girl has been taken off ventilator support and is breathing normally. At this point, it is the infections that the doctors are worried about,” said an official from the hospital. According to a notice from the hospital PR, doctors have stated that the girl is currently “maintaining well and under close monitoring.”

Doctors are, however, worried that the girl may be at risk of developing an infection as the weapon used in the attack may have been rusty. “In view of injuries caused by the contaminated and rusty weapon, the chances of infection are high for another couple of days,” read the statement from the PR.

Keeping this in mind, they have begun preventive treatment for infections. The girl is currently in the ICU and is being closely monitored by a team of doctors.

The minor girl was brutally attacked by 19-year-old Bharath, her neighbour, who had been harassing her for months. The incident, which took place on Wednesday, left the girl with severe injuries. Bharath was arrested later that night. According to the police, the girl's family had filed a complaint with the SHE team, a special unit of the Hyderabad police that deals with women safety, who even counselled Bharath. Despite this, he committed the crime.

Doctors waited until her blood pressure and pulse stabilised, following which she underwent a seven-hour-long surgery. Around 20 units of blood were required for the procedure. Although she was on ventilator support, she was responding to doctors and was able to recognise her family members as well.