A mysterious and severe hair loss outbreak in three villages of Shegaon tehsil in Buldhana district has caused widespread panic, with over 55 people experiencing sudden baldness within a span of a week. The affected villages – Bondgaon, Kalwad, and Hingna – have a combined population of about 1,700 people, primarily consisting of farmers and farm laborers. Health officials have launched an investigation to identify the cause, focusing on potential fungal infections and water quality concerns.
The alarming hair loss symptoms began on January 2 when three women from Bondgaon village experienced severe hair fall after using a hair-washing product. While local doctors initially suspected the product to be the cause, similar cases quickly spread to other villagers, prompting health officials to step in. “The symptoms are so severe that even a gentle touch or tug causes hair to fall out in clumps,” said Digambar Imale, a resident of Bondgaon. Within a week, many residents have lost all their hair, with some completely going bald.
Bondgaon village’s sarpanch, Rameshwar Dharkar, stated that the local health center was overwhelmed by the cases. “When the initial diagnosis didn’t help, we escalated the matter to district authorities,” he explained. The government’s response involved sending health teams to the villages to gather samples for analysis, and investigations are now focused on the quality of the local water supply. Preliminary tests on water, hair, and skin samples are being conducted in a Pune laboratory.
Dr. Deepali Bhayekar, a tehsil-level medical officer, confirmed that samples from local water sources had been sent for testing. While the cause of the outbreak remains uncertain, a fungal infection is suspected. Dr. Amol Gite, the district medical officer, noted that a team, including a skin specialist, had collected over 50 samples from the three villages for further examination. “We suspect it may be a fungal infection and are providing preliminary treatment while awaiting the test results,” he said.
Buldhana district collector Kiran Patil emphasized that water contamination was unlikely to be the cause of the outbreak, as the villages have been using the same water supply for generations. “Our water is saline with a high total dissolved solids (TDS) level. While we used to drink this water, we have been relying on tanker water for drinking purposes for the past few years,” Patil clarified.
Dr. Sanjay Mahajan, a local medical practitioner, echoed the suspicion of a fungal infection. “Hair washed with saline water and not dried thoroughly can lead to fungal growth at the roots, especially in humid conditions. The labor class in these villages often lacks the time to maintain optimal hygiene, which may explain the rapid spread of the infection,” Mahajan explained.
With the scale of the outbreak unprecedented, residents are anxious, fearing an environmental factor or a previously unidentified health threat may be at play. Many villagers have taken precautions by sourcing water from nearby areas instead of using the local water supply.
As the investigation continues, villagers are hoping for swift answers, while health officials urge them to maintain hygiene and await the results of ongoing tests. The growing number of affected individuals has intensified concerns, and the community is anxiously awaiting further guidelines from authorities.
The health department’s response, in collaboration with local government officials, is expected to shape the next course of action once the cause is definitively identified. Until then, the villages remain on edge as they grapple with the mysterious health crisis.
Sources By Agencies
