A mysterious medical condition that reportedly forced a 16-year-old boy in India to spend prolonged periods submerged in pond water has captured widespread attention, sparking concern, speculation and an urgent search for answers.
The teenager, identified as Iqbal Sheikh from Beldanga in West Bengal’s Murshidabad district, has reportedly lived with the unusual condition for several years. His family is said to have sought medical assistance in the past but struggled to afford the prolonged and specialised treatment that his condition appeared to require.
Iqbal’s situation came into the spotlight after videos circulating on social media reportedly showed him sitting or swimming in a pond for hours at a time.
In some of the footage, local residents could reportedly be seen bringing him food, which he ate while remaining in the water.
The teenager has reportedly moved between different ponds and sometimes remained in the water for extremely long periods.
According to accounts surrounding the case, Iqbal experiences an intense burning sensation whenever he comes out of the water. The discomfort reportedly becomes so severe that he is compelled to return to the pond.
The unusual behaviour has left many people searching for explanations.
Iqbal has reportedly described his experience as though a supernatural force was controlling him, a description that has fueled speculation among some members of the community.
However, medical professionals have stressed that such claims should not be taken as a diagnosis. A thorough medical examination is necessary to determine whether the teenager’s symptoms are caused by an underlying physical condition, psychological factors or a combination of issues.
From a village pond to a Mumbai hospital
The teenager’s circumstances took a dramatic turn after videos of him circulated widely online.
The case reportedly came to the attention of an initiative linked to Anant Ambani, which stepped in to help facilitate specialised medical care for Iqbal.
Reports indicate that the teenager was taken from West Bengal to Mumbai, reportedly by air ambulance, for further evaluation.
He has reportedly been admitted to Sir H. N. Reliance Foundation Hospital, where doctors are expected to conduct detailed examinations to establish what could be causing the severe burning sensation and his unusual dependence on water.
For Iqbal’s family, the development has brought renewed hope after years of uncertainty.
Their greatest wish now is reportedly to receive a clear diagnosis and discover a treatment that will enable the teenager to leave the ponds behind and resume a more normal life.
Doctor had offered free treatment
Before reports emerged that Iqbal had been taken to Mumbai, Ghaziabad-based doctor Dr Brajpal Tyagi had reportedly offered to treat the teenager free of charge.
In a video shared on Instagram, Tyagi explained that he had appealed to the West Bengal government after seeing the viral footage and wanted permission to examine and treat Iqbal.
According to the doctor, the state government subsequently responded, while Iqbal’s relatives and neighbours had also reportedly expressed a desire for him to provide treatment.
However, before arrangements could proceed, Tyagi said he was informed by local residents that a team had taken Iqbal away in an ambulance or air ambulance.
The doctor welcomed the development, saying it was positive that someone had stepped forward to help the teenager. At the same time, he questioned what medical diagnosis had been reached and why Iqbal had been spending such prolonged periods in the pond.
Why does Iqbal stay in the water?
The most puzzling aspect of the case remains Iqbal’s reported inability to stay out of the water for extended periods.
Accounts from the area suggest that he experiences severe burning or discomfort when he leaves the pond, forcing him to return.
Some reports have described him as spending weeks in ponds, while other accounts have referred to the behaviour continuing for several years.
The situation has reportedly become so familiar to some residents that they bring him food while he remains in the water.
Yet what appears unusual to outsiders has reportedly been a painful reality for Iqbal and his family.
Doctors warn of dangers of prolonged exposure
Medical experts have cautioned that remaining in water for prolonged periods can itself create serious health problems.
Extended exposure can cause skin maceration, where the skin becomes excessively soft and vulnerable because of prolonged contact with water. This can increase the risk of irritation, cracking and infection.
The burning sensation Iqbal reportedly experiences when leaving the water therefore requires careful medical assessment rather than assumptions about its cause.
Doctors may need to investigate a range of possible physical conditions while also considering psychological or behavioural factors if other symptoms are present.
At this stage, however, there is no confirmed diagnosis publicly establishing exactly what is causing Iqbal’s condition.
A viral video becomes a desperate call for help
For years, Iqbal’s unusual behaviour was reportedly known within his local community. But once videos from Beldanga began circulating online, his story reached a much wider audience.
Viewers were stunned by footage appearing to show a teenager living for prolonged periods in pond water, sometimes eating meals while submerged.
The viral videos transformed what had largely been a local struggle into a national appeal for assistance.
For Iqbal’s family, who had reportedly struggled to access specialised and affordable medical care, the attention has now brought an opportunity they may not previously have had.
As doctors in Mumbai examine the teenager, many will be waiting for one crucial answer: What is causing Iqbal to experience such severe discomfort outside the water?
For now, the teenager’s journey has moved from the ponds of Beldanga to a specialised hospital in Mumbai — where his family hopes medical science can finally provide the answers they have been searching for.
