The 48-year-old woman who showed exemplary courage and saved a younger woman who was allegedly attacked and thrown off a speeding Honda City on Saturday night underwent a four-hour surgery on Monday.

Nilanjana Chatterjee will have to spend a few more days in complete rest at the hospital before doctors make her walk again with support. She can only be discharged after at least a week, doctors have told the family. Returning back to normal life will take a few more months.

An official of Ruby General Hospital, where Chatterjee is admitted, said the surgery was done to fix the tibia and fibula bones of her left leg, both of which broke after the Honda City ran over her leg.

“The doctors inserted titanium rods, plates and screws in her leg to fix the bones. She is doing better and has been taken out of the intensive care unit. She also underwent a plastic surgery as a portion of the skin tore open and the interior of the leg got exposed when the car ran over her leg,” said the official.

Nilanjana’s husband Deep Satpati, who was at the hospital, said that a longer battle for recuperation would now begin. “It was a long surgery. Surgeons told me they had to carry out grafting of several injuries of the bone. She needs to be in the hospital for at least a week,” Deep said.

He was speaking around 4.30pm, shortly after Nilanjana was wheeled out of the operating theatre. The couple’s daughter, who works for an e-learning platform, was present at the hospital.

“It will be another battle now till Nilanjana can stand on her legs and walk. Doctors have warned that there should not be any infection,” Deep said. “There are a few spots which have been left open. Doctors said if they had closed them, the skin below would have started to rot.”

The family decided that after discharge, Nilanjana would be taken to her parent's apartment at Abhyudoy Housing Complex, which is close to the hospital. A nurse who takes care of her ailing father will look after her as well.

The couple and their daughter live at a housing complex near the intersection of EM Bypass and Prince Anwar Shah Road.

Late in the evening, Deep visited Anandapur police station and submitted a complaint alleging that the man who was driving the Honda City had tried to kill his wife through rash driving while taking a U-turn. The complaint has been tagged to the main case of alleged molestation.

“Officers have said we might have to testify as witnesses in court after the accused is arrested. We will do it,” Deep said.

A Ruby official said usually patients were discharged from hospital after tibia/fibula surgery when they were in a position to walk with help of a walker. “It takes about 5 to 7 days for a person to be able to walk with a walker. They are discharged when they can go to the washroom or perform other basic functions without any help from others,” said the official.