Maharashtra's 'hair loss mystery': Why have villagers gone bald in a week?

In a bizarre turn of events three villages in Maharashtra have become the epicentre of a puzzling health problem. Residents—men, women, and children alike—are reporting sudden and severe hair loss, with many going completely bald in just a matter of days.

So far, around 30 to 40 people in these villages in the Buldhana district have reported cases of significant hair loss, causing widespread panic among locals and nearby areas.

Following the rise in cases, the concerned panchayats are demanding answers, prompting authorities to step in and investigate the issue.

What could be causing this sudden hair loss? Are environmental factors, water quality, or health conditions to blame? Here’s everything we know so far about the situation.

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Villagers complain of mysterious hair loss

In the past week, residents of Borgaon, Kalwad, and Hingna villages in the Shegaon tehsil of Buldhana district, have been struck by an alarming and unexplained case of rapid hair loss.

Some villagers have reported that a simple tug on their hair is enough to pull it out, while others have noticed bald patches appearing within just a few days. Locals are dubbing it the ‘Baldness Virus'.

Rama Patil Tharkar, the Village Sarpanch and president of the Village Sarpanch Association, spoke to Times Now about the escalating concern.

“A strange disease has spread in my village for the last ten days, in which the citizens are losing their hair, and there’s an atmosphere of fear among the villagers. We have about 20 patients here, and after touching their hair, it comes out easily. I informed the District Health Officer about this three days ago,” Tharkar said.

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One elderly woman shared her experience with India Today, revealing that she has been dealing with hair loss since last Sunday and now keeps her fallen hair safely stored in a small bag.

Similarly, a young man mentioned that his hairline has been receding rapidly over the past 10 days, with even his starting to fall out.

As the panic spreads, many individuals who have been affected have resorted to shaving their heads entirely.

The growing concern has prompted a visit from top district health officials. A team from the health department, which visited the affected villages, identified about 50 people suffering from the condition and doctors fear that the number could rise further in the coming days.

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What’s behind the sudden hair loss?

In response to the alarming situation, a team from the district health department conducted a survey in the affected villages.

District Health Officer Amol Geete, in an India Today report, stated, “As soon as we got the information, we sent a skin specialist and an epidemiologist to the village for the primary investigation. Around 99 per cent of the cases show a fungal infection of the scalp, due to which people experience hair fall. We will also test the water to see if there are heavy metals in it, because they boost fungal infection."

A skincare expert involved in the investigation confirmed that water samples from the three villages have been collected and sent for testing to check for possible contamination.

According to The Times of India, the affected villages lie in the Purna river basin, a region known for its saline soil and poor water quality. Previous government reports have flagged the excessive fluoride and fertiliser content in the groundwater, which could also be contributing to the problem.

Dr Deepali Bahekar, Shegaon’s health officer, revealed that medical treatment for the affected individuals has been initiated based on their symptoms, with guidance from skincare specialists. She also suggested conducting scalp biopsies on the affected individuals to determine the exact cause of the condition.

While doctors await the results of the tests, they have advised villagers to prioritise their health and take necessary precautions to prevent further cases of hair loss.

With input from agencies