Chennai:
Eight-month-old conjoined twin babies from Tanzania, Ericana and Eludi, have been surgically separated at the Apollo Hospitals in Chennai.
In a statement, doctors said the babies are stable.
"At 21:00 hours, Ericana and Eluidi have been separated and are stable. Reconstruction surgery on both babies will resume and close at midnight," said lead Surgeon Dr V Sripathi.
It was a first of its kind surgery in India on conjoined male twins.
The infants shared the tail portion of their spinal cord and urethra. Their genitals remained fused.
The surgery began at 7 AM on Monday. They were separated after 14 hours.
The procedure could cost between Rs 20-40 lakhs. Their single mother is financially weak, and hence the Tanzanian government, according to the hospital, has come forward to sponsor a major part with the hospital prepared to chip in with the rest if required.
Experts at the hospital say although conjoined twin females have lived up to 44 years in Bohemia, only four cases of conjoined males have been successfully separated.
The mother and the hospital have asked for prayers and good wishes from people all over the world.