West Bengal Teen Spends Years in Ponds Due to Burning Sensation Outside Water
Iqbal Sheikh, a 16-year-old boy from Murshidabad, West Bengal, has spent nearly five years living in ponds, sometimes submerged for days, due to an intense burning sensation he experiences when out of water. He attributes this to supernatural possession by a jinn, though medical experts suggest a rare condition called aquagenic pruritus could explain his symptoms. His prolonged water exposure has affected his health, causing pale, waterlogged skin and respiratory issues. Locals and family express concern amid limited medical support.
First-hand measurement across 3 sources
We measured how 3 outlets covered this story. No outlet gave this story a measurable political slant — there is no left–right reading to report. Overall sentiment is neutral (45/100). Lens Score 38/100.
Outlets measured: news18, indiatoday, indiatoday. See how each one headlined and framed the same story in the source comparison below.
AI Analysis
Sentiment was consistent across outlets (42–52/100), indicating broadly factual reporting rather than editorialising.
Coverage timeline
indiatoday broke this story on 10 Aug, 03:50 am. Other outlets followed.