Imagine stepping out of your home and feeling that your own body is burning. Now imagine that the only place where you feel comfortable is inside a pond.
That is the unusual story surrounding 16-year-old Iqbal Sheikh from Beldanga in Murshidabad, West Bengal, whose videos and story have recently gone viral on social media.
Iqbal has reportedly been spending long periods in pond water, a habit that according to a report citing CNBC-TV18 has continued for nearly five years.
But what is really happening to him? Is there an illness behind his unusual behaviour, or is there another explanation?
- Name: Iqbal Sheikh
- Age: 16, according to reports
- Place: Beldanga, Murshidabad, West Bengal
- Why he is viral: Reports of spending extended periods in pond water
- His reported explanation: He says a djinn is responsible
- Confirmed medical diagnosis: None publicly reported so far
Why Does Iqbal Stay Inside a Pond?
This is the part of the story that has surprised thousands of people.
According to the latest media report, Iqbal says that he feels a burning sensation when he is outside the water. He reportedly believes that a “djinn” is responsible for what he experiences.
For him, the pond is therefore not simply a place to swim. It has reportedly become a place where he feels relief.
And that is exactly why the story has generated so much curiosity online.
▶️ Click Here to Watch the Full VideoDoes Iqbal Sheikh Have a Disease?
There is no confirmed answer yet.
Despite social media discussions about his condition, no credible public medical report currently identifies a specific disease that Iqbal is suffering from.
This distinction is important. The teenager has described a physical sensation — a burning feeling outside water — but a symptom by itself does not tell us what disease, if any, is causing it.
A doctor would need to examine him, understand his medical history and, if necessary, conduct appropriate tests before reaching a diagnosis.
Possibly — but it would be speculation to name a particular disease without an examination. Skin conditions, nerve-related problems and other physical or psychological factors can sometimes produce unusual sensations, but none of these should be assumed to explain Iqbal’s case.
The Burning Sensation Is the Biggest Clue
Among all the details surrounding the story, one claim stands out: Iqbal reportedly says that his body begins to burn when he comes out of the water.
That symptom deserves attention because burning sensations can have many different causes. They can sometimes be related to the skin, nerves, inflammation or other medical conditions.
But there is another important point — we do not know exactly what Iqbal means by “burning.”
Is it a feeling on the skin? Is there visible redness? Does it affect his entire body? Does it happen immediately after leaving the water? Does cooling the skin provide relief?
These are the kinds of questions a medical professional would need to answer before understanding what is actually happening.
What About the Djinn Claim?
Iqbal reportedly believes that a djinn is responsible for his condition.
That belief is part of his story and should be reported as such. However, it should not be confused with a medically established explanation.
There is currently no scientific evidence in the available reporting showing that a supernatural entity is responsible for his symptoms.
The safest approach is therefore to separate what Iqbal believes from what has been medically proven.
Why Has This Story Become So Viral?
Part of the reason is simple: people are naturally fascinated by things they cannot immediately explain.
A teenager reportedly spending unusually long periods in a pond is already an extraordinary sight. Add his explanation about a burning sensation and a djinn, and the story becomes almost impossible for social media users to ignore.
Videos then travel quickly from one platform to another, often without the full background behind them.
And that is where things can become complicated.
A short viral video may show what is happening in front of the camera, but it cannot necessarily tell us what happened before the recording began or what happened after it ended.
There Is Another Side to the Story
Behind the viral nickname “Pond Boy” is a teenager who is reportedly only 16 years old.
That is why the story deserves more than jokes, memes and speculation.
If someone is genuinely experiencing unusual physical sensations or feels compelled to spend prolonged periods in water, the priority should be understanding what is happening and ensuring that the person is safe.
Long periods in a pond can also carry obvious risks, including accidental drowning, exhaustion and exposure to contaminated water.
What Doctors Would Need to Find Out
If Iqbal were to undergo a proper medical evaluation, doctors would likely need much more information than what is available in a viral video.
- When did the burning sensation begin?
- Where exactly does he feel it?
- Are there visible changes on his skin?
- Does the sensation disappear completely in water?
- How long does he actually remain in the pond?
- Are there any other physical symptoms?
- Has he previously undergone any medical examination?
Only after questions like these are properly investigated can doctors begin to understand whether there is an underlying medical condition.
The Internet Has a Diagnosis. Reality Doesn't — Yet.
One of the biggest problems with viral stories is that the internet often reaches a conclusion before the facts do.
Within hours, people may start suggesting diseases, supernatural explanations or other theories based on a few seconds of footage.
But Iqbal's story is a good reminder that an unusual symptom does not automatically equal a particular disease.
At the moment, there is no publicly confirmed diagnosis for Iqbal Sheikh.
What we do have is a teenager with an unusual behaviour, a reported burning sensation outside water and his own explanation for what he believes is happening to him.
So, What Is Really Happening to the Pond Boy?
That remains the biggest unanswered question.
Maybe there is a medical explanation that has not yet been made public. Maybe there are psychological or behavioural factors involved. Or perhaps important details of the viral videos are still missing.
What we should not do is turn an unanswered question into a definite diagnosis.
For now, the most accurate conclusion is simple: Iqbal Sheikh's condition has not been medically explained in the reports currently available.
And perhaps that is what makes this story so intriguing — not because we already know the answer, but because we don't.
