After a marathon nine-hour operation, a surgeon joined the severed left hand of a man at the Western Regional Hospital in Pokhara recently in probably the first procedure of its kind in Nepal, a published report said.

Suman Shrestha, 24, can now move his fingers after the operation and physiotherapy. Shrestha’s hands were severed in a khukri brawl at Beni.

Only a skin strand and an artery attached the severed hand and arm. Dr.Digvijaya Sharma Timilsina conducted the operation with the help of three other doctors and two health personnel.