Bengal Boy, 16, Has Spent 5 Years Living In Water: ‘I’m Possessed And My Body Burns’

Published 11 August 2026 · india

News india Bengal Boy, 16, Has Spent 5 Years Living In Water: ‘I’m Possessed And My Body Burns’ Bengal Boy, 16, Has Spent 5 Years

News india Bengal Boy, 16, Has Spent 5 Years Living In Water: ‘I’m Possessed And My Body Burns’ Bengal Boy, 16, Has Spent 5 Years Living In Water: ‘I’m Possessed And My Body Burns’ Published By, Last Updated: August 11, 2026, 08:10 IST The condition has also kept Iqbal Sheikh away from several aspects of normal teenage life, including attending school regularly. The teenager linked the experience to a supernatural force, saying he believes a jinn or spirit is responsible for the sensation. A 16-year-old boy in West Bengal has spent nearly five years living in ponds, sometimes remaining submerged for four to seven days at a stretch. Iqbal Sheikh, from Beldanga in Murshidabad district, said that he experiences an intense burning sensation across his body whenever he comes out of the water- a pain he attributes to what he believes is possession by a jinn.

Iqbal Sheikh reportedly spends both days and nights in ponds around his village. According to local residents, there have been occasions when he stayed in the water for nearly a week continuously. He says the burning sensation begins when his skin is exposed to air and eases once he gets back into the water. The teenager linked the experience to a supernatural force, saying he believes a jinn or spirit is responsible for the sensation. However, there is no evidence establishing supernatural possession as the cause of his condition. Reports said that the underlying medical or psychological reason for his symptoms remains unclear. His unusual routine has also taken a toll on his health. Prolonged exposure to water has reportedly left the skin on his hands, feet and other parts of his body pale and waterlogged.

He has also developed persistent cold and cough symptoms, according to local residents. Iqbal Sheikh reportedly survives on food brought to him by villagers, including flattened rice, biscuits and other snacks. Residents, including schoolchildren, have increasingly gathered around the ponds to watch him, turning his ordeal into a local spectacle even as concerns about his health grow. His family has reportedly taken him to a local Block Primary Health Centre but has struggled to arrange further treatment because of financial difficulties. Attempts by relatives and local authorities to persuade him to leave the water have also reportedly failed. One possible medical explanation mentioned in recent reporting is aquagenic pruritus, a rare condition in which contact with water can trigger intense itching or discomfort. However, this has not been established as Iqbal’s diagnosis, and further medical evaluation would be needed to determine what is causing his symptoms.