16 Year Old Who Could Only Find Relief In Water Is Flown To Mumbai

For five years, Iqbal Sheikh reportedly found relief from an agonizing burning sensation only when he was in water. The 16-year-old from West Bengal, India, eventually spent much of his time sitting in local ponds, sometimes remaining there for hours while eating and waiting for the pain to ease.

Now, after videos of his unusual routine spread around the world, Iqbal has been flown to Mumbai for specialist medical care. Doctors reportedly suspect a rare condition may be responsible, although his diagnosis has not yet been confirmed.

Iqbal’s Life Became Centered Around Ponds

Iqbal, who lives in the Murshidabad district of West Bengal, has reportedly suffered from the mysterious burning sensation for more than five years. According to reports, the pain becomes unbearable when he leaves the water, while remaining submerged provides him with temporary relief.

His unusual routine eventually caught the attention of concerned neighbours. Footage shared online showed the teenager sitting neck-deep in a pond while eating snacks, giving viewers a glimpse into how completely the condition had disrupted his life.

Another video reportedly filmed at his home showed Iqbal crying out in pain while covered with towels and surrounded by members of his family. The footage helped bring wider attention to a problem that had already been affecting the teenager for years.

Iqbal’s parents had reportedly taken him to hospitals and traditional healers in the past. However, the family was eventually forced to stop pursuing treatment because of serious financial difficulties.

With no clear explanation for his symptoms, Iqbal continued relying on water as a form of relief. Local residents reportedly began bringing him supplies while he remained in ponds around his village.

Doctors Are Now Investigating A Rare Condition

The teenager’s situation changed after his story gained widespread attention. According to the reports provided, Anant Ambani, the son of Indian billionaire Mukesh Ambani, became aware of Iqbal’s struggle and reportedly arranged for him to travel to Mumbai for specialist care.

Iqbal was reportedly flown more than 1,300 miles to Mumbai and taken to Sir HN Reliance Hospital. Doctors there are expected to conduct further examinations and tests while determining what may be causing his symptoms.

Medical professionals reportedly suspect that Iqbal could have erythromelalgia, a rare condition associated with episodes of burning pain, redness and unusually hot skin. However, the reports do not establish that this is his confirmed diagnosis.

That distinction is particularly important because Iqbal has spent years without a definitive explanation for his symptoms. The current medical evaluation could therefore be an important step toward understanding what he has been experiencing.

According to the NHS information cited in the reports, erythromelalgia can cause burning pain, itching, redness, warmth, swelling and increased sweating. The condition most commonly affects the feet, although the hands, arms, legs, ears and face can also be involved.

The cause is not always known. In some cases, erythromelalgia can be connected to another underlying condition, while some cases are associated with an inherited faulty gene.

Why Staying In Water Could Have Caused More Problems

The most troubling part of Iqbal’s story is that the method he used to control his pain may have created additional health risks.

Water reportedly gave him temporary relief, so he continued spending long periods submerged. However, medical professionals have warned about the consequences of keeping the skin underwater for extended periods.

One dermatologist cited in the reports said prolonged immersion can cause skin to become dangerously soft and pale. This can increase vulnerability to fungal and bacterial infections.

People around Iqbal reportedly noticed changes to his hands and feet, with parts of his skin becoming pale after years of spending so much time in water. He was also reportedly experiencing cold and cough symptoms.

The situation created a difficult cycle. Iqbal needed the water because it appeared to ease his burning sensation, but spending so much time submerged could expose his skin to other problems.

The Cleveland Clinic guidance cited in the reports also warns that people with erythromelalgia should be careful about using cold water as a way to control symptoms. Prolonged soaking or exposure to very cold water can potentially worsen problems and contribute to serious skin damage.

That warning is particularly relevant in Iqbal’s case because remaining in ponds became his primary method of coping with the pain.

What Is Erythromelalgia?

Erythromelalgia is an uncommon condition that can produce episodes of intense burning pain, warmth and redness in affected areas of the body.

The NHS describes burning pain as one of its main symptoms, along with red or hot skin, swelling and increased sweating. Symptoms can be constant or may come and go.

Several factors can trigger flare-ups, including warm temperatures, exercise, stress, dehydration, alcohol, spicy food and wearing warm or tight clothing.

The condition can be difficult to manage because treatment depends on the individual and the cause of their symptoms. If another underlying condition is responsible, doctors may focus on treating that condition while also managing the pain.

The reports say that treatment options can include topical medications, prescription drugs and pain management therapies. Some patients may also receive lidocaine infusions or nerve blocks, depending on their circumstances and medical advice.

Cooling strategies can also be used, although medical guidance recommends approaches that avoid the risks associated with prolonged exposure to very cold water.

The Cleveland Clinic information cited in the reports includes resting on a cool surface, using a fan, elevating the affected area and placing a cool gel pack wrapped in a thin towel against the skin.

For Iqbal, determining whether erythromelalgia is actually responsible for his symptoms will be the first step.

His Explanation Involved A Supernatural Force

Before receiving specialist medical attention, Iqbal reportedly had his own explanation for the burning sensation.

During an interview with a television crew, the teenager reportedly attributed the symptoms to a “djinn” or supernatural force controlling his body. Reports said he believed a supernatural entity could be responsible for the agony he experienced whenever he left the water.

The belief emerged after years of unexplained suffering. His family had reportedly sought help from both hospitals and traditional healers, but no lasting solution had been found.

A djinn, also spelled jinn or jinni, is a supernatural being found in Islamic and Arabic mythology. The concept has also appeared throughout stories and traditions across the wider region.

For Iqbal, however, the important fact was the physical pain itself. Regardless of what he believed was causing it, the burning sensation had become severe enough to dictate how he lived his daily life.

His decision to remain in ponds may have seemed extraordinary to people watching the videos, but the reports indicate that he viewed the water as one of the few things capable of providing relief.

The Viral Videos Changed The Situation

Iqbal’s story might have remained largely unknown outside his village if not for the videos that began circulating online.

The footage showed something that was difficult for viewers to ignore: a teenager spending his days sitting in a pond because leaving the water reportedly caused him severe pain.

One clip showed him eating while submerged, illustrating just how normal the situation had become for him. Another showed the teenager at home while apparently experiencing significant distress.

As the footage spread, concerns about his condition grew. The attention eventually helped bring his situation to the attention of people who could provide further assistance.

That led to the reported intervention by Anant Ambani and Iqbal’s journey to Mumbai.

The teenager is now expected to remain under medical supervision while doctors investigate his symptoms and consider appropriate treatment.

For his family, the significance of the hospital visit goes beyond simply receiving another medical opinion. They reportedly hope it will provide the sustained care that previous financial difficulties had made difficult to obtain.

His Family Wants Him To Return Home

Iqbal’s family is reportedly hopeful that specialist treatment will eventually allow him to return to a normal life at home.

For years, his routine has been shaped by the burning sensation. Instead of spending his days at school, with friends or carrying out ordinary activities for a teenager his age, he has reportedly spent large amounts of time in ponds to escape the pain.

The reports do not establish exactly when his symptoms began beyond stating that he has dealt with them for more than five years. That means the problem has consumed a significant portion of his childhood.

His parents reportedly tried to find help before the story became widely known, but financial difficulties prevented them from continuing treatment.

Now, Iqbal has access to specialist medical attention in Mumbai. Doctors can investigate whether erythromelalgia is responsible or whether another condition is behind his symptoms.

That process could take time. A suspected diagnosis is only a starting point, particularly when a patient has experienced unusual symptoms for several years.

The immediate priority is finding a safe way to control the pain without forcing Iqbal to depend on prolonged immersion in water.

The Biggest Question Is What Happens After The Diagnosis

Iqbal’s story has attracted attention because the image of a teenager living in a pond is so unusual. But the medical problem behind that image is far more serious than the viral footage suggests.

He reportedly did not choose this lifestyle simply because he preferred being in the water. He was trying to escape a sensation that had become unbearable.

The ponds offered temporary relief, but prolonged immersion brought its own dangers. That is why identifying the underlying cause is so important for his future.

If doctors confirm erythromelalgia, they will have a clearer path toward managing his symptoms. If testing reveals another cause, the specialist evaluation could lead the medical team in a different direction.

Either way, Iqbal’s family now has something they have reportedly been searching for for years: access to specialist medical care.

After spending much of his childhood trying to stay underwater, the teenager may finally have a chance to find relief without needing a pond to provide it.