A 16-year-old boy from West Bengal who has reportedly spent around five years in village ponds to relieve an intense burning sensation has been flown to Mumbai for specialist medical treatment.
Iqbal Sheikh, from Beldanga in Murshidabad district, was taken to Sir HN Reliance Foundation Hospital after Reliance Industries Executive Director Anant Ambani arranged his transfer.
Sheikh has said he experiences severe discomfort whenever he leaves the water and finds temporary relief when he returns to a pond. His case reached a wider audience after videos showed him eating snacks while partially submerged.
No diagnosis or prognosis has been publicly announced. The hospital assessment is the first reported opportunity for specialist clinicians to investigate the symptoms described by Sheikh and his family.
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Teenager Flown to Mumbai for Assessment
Sheikh was transferred from West Bengal to Mumbai for evaluation and treatment, following Ambani's intervention. His family had previously sought local medical help but said they could not afford sustained private treatment.
The teenager was known locally for remaining in ponds for extended periods. He was said to stay in the water from morning until late at night, with residents sometimes bringing him food.
The move to Mumbai places the case in a specialist medical setting after years of reported symptoms. It does not, however, establish the medical cause of Sheikh's burning sensation.
Symptoms Still Without a Diagnosis
Sheikh has said that leaving the water triggers burning pain across his body. He has also said he believes a jinn, a supernatural being in Arabic and Islamic tradition, or another presence is connected to his experience.
That belief is Sheikh's personal account and is not an independently verified explanation. No clinician has publicly confirmed a physical or psychological diagnosis in his case.
Erythromelalgia, a rare disorder linked to burning pain, warmth and redness, has been mentioned as one possible explanation in coverage of the case. It remains a theory, not a diagnosis, and should not be treated as the confirmed cause of Sheikh's symptoms.
Prolonged Immersion Raises Concerns
A dermatologist at Seth Sukhlal Karnani Memorial (SSKM) Hospital told ANI that prolonged immersion can cause skin maceration, leaving skin pale, soft and more vulnerable to irritation, cracking and infection.
A second dermatologist told ANI that keeping the skin constantly wet can increase the risk of fungal and bacterial infections.
These potential complications are separate from the unconfirmed condition that Sheikh says leads him to seek relief in ponds.
The warnings gained added relevance because Sheikh was reportedly spending long periods in untreated local water bodies.
Specialist evaluation may clarify both the underlying symptoms and the potential health effects of his prolonged immersion.
Online Footage Sparked National Interest
Videos of Sheikh remaining in ponds brought a private family hardship into public view. The footage showed him eating while in the water, an image that circulated widely online.
Residents and schoolchildren reportedly gathered nearby, while some people brought him food. The reports highlighted both concern for Sheikh and the public interest surrounding his circumstances.
Sheikh is now receiving specialist medical treatment in Mumbai. Any update on his condition is likely to be based on information confirmed by his family, hospital or treating clinicians.
