Iqbal Sheikh, a 16-year-old from Beldanga, in India’s Murshidabad district, has been living through a situation that seems straight out of a movie for nearly five years: he spends long periods inside ponds in his area because he claims that his body begins to feel an intense burning sensation every time he gets out of the water.
According to the young man himself, remaining submerged is the only way he has found to relieve the discomfort. Neighbors say he can spend entire days and even nearly a week in the water, while family members and local residents bring him food and other supplies.
The situation began to go viral after videos emerged of Iqbal sitting inside the ponds, often with the water covering much of his body and even eating while he remains there.
The teenager came to believe that there might be a supernatural explanation for what was happening to him. According to Indian media, Iqbal has spoken of a “jinn”, a being from Islamic tradition, as a possible cause of the burning sensation he experiences when he is out of the water.
However, doctors and specialists have begun looking for a physical explanation.
One possibility mentioned is erythromelalgia, a rare disorder that can cause episodes of intense burning pain, heat, and reddening of the skin. But it is important to clarify that Iqbal’s diagnosis has not yet been confirmed.
And constantly staying in the water does not seem to be a safe solution either. Neighbors have observed that the skin on his hands and feet has become pale and that he has developed problems such as colds and a cough due to the time he spends submerged.
The story, however, has just taken a turn.
After the case became known, Anant Ambani, son of Indian businessman Mukesh Ambani, stepped in to help the teenager. Iqbal was taken more than 1.300 kilometers to Mumbai to receive a specialized medical evaluation at the Sir HN Reliance Hospital.
Doctors are now trying to discover what is really causing the strange pain.
Meanwhile, the image of a teenager who needs to remain inside a pond to find relief continues to astonish thousands of people.
Five years in the water and still without a definitive explanation: that is the strange reality Iqbal hopes to leave behind.
Watch the clip here: