According to the hospital, Wangchuk was brought to Vardhman Mahavir Medical College and Safdarjung Hospital by the Delhi Police at 7:40 a.m. after remaining on an indefinite fast for 20 days without consuming any solid food. A medical update stated that he was admitted with complaints of generalised weakness. Doctors said he had no history of fainting episodes and was fully conscious at the time of admission, with stable pulse, blood pressure and oxygen saturation levels. However, medical examination revealed signs of dehydration.
The hospital further stated that urinary ketone levels, measured at 1+ upon admission, had increased to 3+ by 1:00 p.m., indicating a worsening metabolic condition. Medical officials reported that Wangchuk remained under close observation following the prolonged fast.
According to hospital sources, doctors also detected dehydration, low potassium levels and rising ketone levels. They warned that significantly elevated ketone levels combined with dehydration could increase the risk of kidney damage and other metabolic complications. Hospital authorities said they were continuously counselling Wangchuk's family to permit treatment without further delay.
Doctors advised intravenous fluids, but Wangchuk declined intravenous therapy, oral rehydration fluids and all other medication. The hospital stated that he continued to remain under continuous medical observation while doctors repeatedly counselled him to accept treatment in the interest of his health.
Activist Sonam Wangchuk's health update | Sonam Wangchuk was admitted at VMMC & Safdarjung Hospital at 7:40 am on 18/7/2026 after being brought by Delhi Police. He was admitted with a history of fasting for 20 days for solid food and generalised weakness. There is no history of… pic.twitter.com/2v0bN1cv8d
— ANI (@ANI) July 18, 2026
Meanwhile, Wangchuk's wife, Gitanjali J. Angmo, requested the hospital not to administer any treatment without her consent and sought his discharge. She also requested that he be allowed to shift to another medical facility.
Wangchuk's personal physician, Dr. Nitin Dighe, questioned the hospital's assessment of the activist's condition and alleged a lack of transparency in the treatment process. He said that his medical team had been monitoring Wangchuk's health throughout the past 20 days of the hunger strike but neither he nor Wangchuk's legal representatives had been permitted to meet him after his admission. He stated that only Wangchuk's wife had been allowed access.
Dr. Dighe said hospital officials informed him that Wangchuk was suffering from potassium deficiency. However, he claimed that blood samples collected at 3:00 p.m. on the previous day showed a potassium level of 4.8, which he said was above the normal minimum value of 3.5. He questioned how the potassium level could have fallen so rapidly and alleged that hospital authorities were refusing to provide medical reports despite repeated requests from Wangchuk's wife. Calling the situation suspicious, Dr. Dighe said he was independently collecting Wangchuk's blood samples for laboratory testing and would make the results public. He added that his team did not trust the government laboratory.
Dr. Dighe further stated that Wangchuk's wife had submitted a written request to the government hospital seeking his immediate discharge so that he could be shifted to another hospital. He also said that the planned march to Parliament on July 20 would proceed as scheduled. According to him, Wangchuk intended to participate if his condition allowed, while his wife would join the march in his place if he remained unable to attend.
On Friday night, Wangchuk declared that he remained determined to continue the hunger strike despite his worsening health. He claimed that he had lost 20 percent of his body weight during the fast.
Wangchuk has been on an indefinite hunger strike since June 28 in support of the CJP-led protest over alleged irregularities in the NEET examination and the reported deaths of students linked to the controversy.
The Delhi High Court has been monitoring Wangchuk's medical condition and has directed the authorities to conduct regular health assessments and provide appropriate medical intervention whenever necessary.
The developments have intensified attention on Wangchuk's health, the ongoing protest over the alleged examination irregularities, and the legal and medical issues surrounding his continued hunger strike, as authorities, family members and doctors remain divided over the immediate course of treatment.
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