Termed as Kumbhkarna of 21st century, Rajasthan man sleeps for 300 days a year due to disorder

July 18: Since the news of a man from Rajasthan’s Nagaur district came in media who sleeps 300 days in a year, people started to dub him as 21st century Kumbhkaran. The mythological figure from Ramayan ‘Kumbhkarna,’ is famed for sleeping for 6 months without being awakened. This name has been given by the villagers of Bhadwa village to 42-year-old, Purkharam, as he sleeps 300 days a year because he suffers from a rare sleeping disorder known as Axis Hypersomnia. 

Pukharam was diagnosed with this condition 23 years ago and, since then, it has affected his daily life as it gets difficult to wake him up once he falls asleep. Initially, he used to sleep for over 5 to 7 days in one go. Gradually, his condition aggravated and his periods of sleep increased and now he sleeps for 20-25 days a month, said his family members.

Due to his disease, Pukharam is able to operate his small grocery shop in the village for just five days a month. And he might even fall asleep while he is at work. Worried about this, his family sought medical help, but his disease could not be cured. By 2015, his condition aggravated and his period of sleep increased by several hours and later by several days.