Indian Teen 'Electric Boy' Survives a Shocking 11,000 Volts: Facts

Story:

16-year-old ‘electric boy’ from India can withstand shocking 11,000 volts without feeling a thing.

Other Versions

1. I’m a human lightbulb! The teen who survives a shocking 11,000 volts.

2. Meet the Boy who places live wires on his tongue without getting electrocuted.

Picture about Indian Teen 'Electric Boy' Survives a Shocking 11,000 Volts — Indian Teen ‘Electric Boy’ Survives a Shocking 11,000 Volts

Analysis:

The story in circulation online talks about a 16-year-old ‘Electric Boy’ from India who can supposedly withstand shocking 11,000 volts without feeling a thing. He is also said to place live wires on his tongue without getting electrocuted. The amazing claim about Deepak Jangra is a fact, but has some information missing.

‘Electric Boy’ Deepak Jangra

In April 2012, 16-year-old Deepak Jangra from a remote village near Sonipat in Haryana of India discovered his bizarre talent of withstanding electricity shock when he was fixing his mother’s heater, touching the open electric wires accidentally. Later, Deepak tried TV wires, light bulbs, an electric woodcutter and an electrical water pump, but each time he did not suffer any shock or injuries; he would simply stop the devices working. He was even able to sit with his hands inside a tub of water along with naked live wires. Shocking above all, Deepak Jangra could apparently resist 11,000 voltage high-tension wire that powers 500 houses in his village – by hanging from the pole touching the wires.

Generally, when a person touches 11,000 volts high-tension wire, he would not even get a shock – he would die instantly! While his widowed mother Khajani Devi sees it as the blessing of his late father who passed away in October 2011, Deepak considers it as a gift from God and feels very privileged. Shown in the video above is a brief recording of Deepak Jangra who is seen as a wonder boy of the village. Having learnt about this amazing ability, Deepak’s teachers asked him to see a doctor. The doctors conducted few blood tests on Deepak but results were normal and clear. However, it should be noted that the true measure of electric shock’s intensity is not the voltage; it lies in the amount of current (measured in amperes) that flows (is forced) through the body. Harnessing the power of electricity is not new, some people have done it in the past and attracted worldwide attention.

Similar Cases in Past

Jose Rafael Marquez Ayala

Jose Rafael Marquez Ayala, an electrician in Puerto Rico is a human superconductor who could transfer huge amounts of electrical current through his body; he could even light bulbs and set fire to paper. As shown in video below, Jose Ayala visited the physics department of University of Puerto Rico several times, but the researchers there are not even sure what tests they can conduct that will not endanger his health. Scientists are yet to understand the exact way that Jose Ayala is able to conduct huge amounts of electrical current.

Ma Xiangang

Ma Xiangang from Daqing city of northeastern China’s province Heilongjiang also had this strange ability to touch electricity without being shocked. He could touch 220-volt electric wires without any protection and can even can light a bulb with his hand. Ma Xiangang discovered this ability accidentally more than 20 years ago while fixing a broken wire connecting his Television. Like Deepak Jangra, Ma Xiangang too can fix electrical circuits with his bare hands. Interestingly, he even used his special ability to conduct electrotherapy and massage for others.

However, experts who careful analyzed Ma’s case believe the secret lies in his hands — the skin of his hands is much rougher & drier than others and functions like a pair of insulated gloves. Ma’s tough skin had a resistance 7-8 times greater than the average human being that prevents most of the electricity from entering his body. The actual current passing through Ma Xiangang‘s body was only six millamperes; while the safety limits for ordinary people is 8-10 milliamperes.

Reaction to electricity differs slightly from person to person; it depends on factors like how thick you are, how moist your skin is, and other changes in body chemistry. Coming back to the ‘electric boy’ Deepak Jangra’s case, the skin on his hand palms does appear rough & thick (and somewhat worn out too), considering he is just sixteen years old. So Deepak Jangra’s case might perhaps be similar to Ma Xiangang’s. But again, more tests are needed to verify the actual reasons behind his unusual ability to withstand high voltage electric shock.