Sonam Wangchuk’s Health After 21‑Day Hunger Strike: Hospital Update

New Delhi – On the 21st day of his indefinite hunger strike, Sonam Wangchuk was whisked away from the iconic Jantar Mantar protest site and admitted to Safdarjung Hospital. The move came after police officials noticed signs of dehydration and decided it was safer to have him under medical eyes.

According to the hospital’s statement released on Saturday night, the activist is fully conscious and his blood pressure, pulse and oxygen saturation are all sitting comfortably within normal ranges. In other words, the numbers look decent, but the doctors are quick to point out that the prolonged fast has left him visibly dehydrated.

What’s more, a specialist from AIIMS, New Delhi, examined Wangchuk and echoed the treating team’s concerns – he needs fluid and electrolyte therapy, and preferably sooner rather than later. An AIIMS doctor has now joined the multidisciplinary team that will keep a close watch on him.

Here’s where it gets a bit tangled: despite repeated counselling from both the hospital staff and the independent AIIMS expert, Wangchuk has flat‑out refused intravenous fluids, oral rehydration solution and any medication. His wife, Gitanjali J. Angmo, has also told the authorities that no treatment should be given without her consent.

Angmo’s frustration is palpable. She says the hospital has been vague about the medical reports – they’ve shown her the paperwork but won’t hand over copies. She even raised the alarm about a sudden dip in Sonam’s potassium level, which reportedly fell from 4.3 mmol/L to 2.9 mmol/L in a single day, a change doctors label as “potentially life‑threatening.”

Adding another layer to the drama, police personnel have been stationed outside the hospital, yet they’re not allowed to keep their phones inside. The activist’s family likens the whole arrangement to a “prison”, questioning why the police presence feels so restrictive.

While the medical team maintains that Wangchuk’s vital signs are stable, they stress that continuous supervision is essential. The physical stress of a three‑week fast can turn a seemingly stable picture into a medical emergency in minutes.

For now, the activist remains under observation, his fate hanging on a delicate balance between his own resolve and the urgent advice of health professionals. The next steps will likely hinge on whether he, or his wife, finally agree to the life‑saving fluids that doctors say are non‑negotiable.