Sonam Wangchuk hunger strike highlights: Doctors say activist's health critical, warn ‘next stage can be alarming’

Sonam Wangchuk hunger strike LIVE: The Delhi High Court on Wednesday sought the presence of the law officers of the Centre and the Delhi government on Thursday in a petition seeking directions to shift activist Sonam Wangchuk, who has been on a hunger strike, to a hospital and provide him medical treatment, including force-feeding.

The direction was issued by a bench of chief justice DK Upadhyaya and justice Tejas Karia in a petition filed by advocate Rakesh Kumar Saini, after the court noted that lawyers continued to abstain from judicial work on Wednesday. Taking note of the urgency of the matter, the bench listed it for hearing on Thursday. Read full report here

Sonam Wangchuk hunger strike LIVE: Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk has urged people not to ask him to end his hunger strike and instead join the July 20 march to the Parliament.

"If I eat, what message will go? The message to the government will be that there is no need for accountability. Protesters sit and leave..." said Wangchuk and asked what would change if he ended the fast.

Instead, he urged people to strengthen the Cockroach Janta Party's proposed Parliament march on July 20, saying students in schools and colleges should participate "in a real lesson in political science and democracy".

Sonam Wangchuk hunger strike LIVE: Dr Satish Lamba named three stages as he described Sonam Wangchuk's current health status on Thursday. “We now face a potential third stage, which could be alarming, involving organ involvement; for this, we must adopt a 'wait and watch' approach. We are maintaining extra vigilance around the clock…,” the doctor said.

He also said that Wangchuk has lost muscle mass which has led to an increase in uric acid in his body.

Sonam Wangchuk hunger strike LIVE: Dr Satish Lamba shared the latest health update of Sonam Wangchuk, saying the overall weight drop so far is 9 kgs, and the blood sugar stands a 80 mg/dL. “His hydration status is fair, and he is mentally alert. His current weight is 56.9 kg,” the doctor said.

Sonam Wangchuk hunger strike LIVE: Sonam Wangchuk's weight has dropped by 9 kgs, his blood sugar today is 80 mg/dL, and his pulse is 72 beats per minute, Dr Satish Lamba said on Thursday, the 19th day of the climate activist's hunger strike.

“His blood pressure readings are 105/61 mmHg while lying down and 101/65 mmHg while sitting. His hydration status is fair, and he is mentally alert. His current weight is 56.9 kg...,” Lamba was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.

Sonam Wangchuk hunger strike LIVE: The Hindu for Human Rights group has urged the government to engage as Sonam Wangchuk's health deteriorates. “The Government of India should not wait until a medical emergency—or a preventable death—forces it to engage,” the group said in a letter addressed to PM Modi and education minister Dharmendra Pradhan.

“We urge the Government of India to honor the best of that history: listen before more harm is done, begin dialogue immediately, and ensure that every participant can end this fast safely and with dignity. Dialogue must begin before irreversible harm occurs,” the letter further read.

Sonam Wangchuk hunger strike LIVE: Visuals from Jantar Mantar emerged this morning as Sonam Wangchuk's agitation and the CJP protest continued.

Sonam Wangchuk hunger strike LIVE: As Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, draws focus amid the ongoing hunger strike led by Sonam Wangchuk, TMC MP Mahua Moitra said that the “BJP ecosystem” shouldn't be allowed to drag his name in the issue.

“It is about BJP govt’s shamelessness & pettiness. Let’s not let BJP ecosystem make this about LoP who frankly was first to say Education Minister must be sacked & has always walked the talk on this issue,” Moitra said in a social media post as she renewed support to Sonam Wangchuk.

Sonam Wangchuk hunger strike LIVE: Content creators Ashish Chanchalani and Bhuvan Bam have extended support to Sonam Wangchuk amid the ongoing hunger strike.

“A conversation can solve everything. Only hope is if someone listens,” Bam said in an Instagram story as he shared Wangchuk's picture. Chanchalani also hoped for dialogue and said that the climate activist was going through something painful.

Sonam Wangchuk hunger strike LIVE: A plea seek urgent medical intervention amid the ongoing hunger strike by Sonam Wangchuk has been filed in the Delhi High Court.

The petition specifically seeks directions to the authorities to "....take him (Sonam Wangchuk) to a government hospital and force feed him the necessary nutrients, vitamins and minerals, by way of a liquid diet which are necessary for a human body to survive," while also ensuring protection of Wangchuk's life and health. Read full story here.

Sonam Wangchuk hunger strike LIVE: AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal reportedly backed the CJP, which has been seeking education minister Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation for several weeks now. Pradhan's resignation is sought over alleged irregularities with examinations and the NEET-UG paper leak in May that impacted several aspirants.

Sonam Wangchuk hunger strike LIVE: Former Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal is expected to visit Jantar Mantar today to meet Sonam Wangchuk, whose hunger strike entered Day 19 today. Ahead of Kejriwal's arrival, security has reportedly been stepped up in and around Jantar Mantar.

According to news agency PTI, additional police personnel and paramilitary forces have been deployed at the protest venue and nearby areas as a precautionary measure.

Sonam Wangchuk hunger strike LIVE: Sonam Wangchuk shared his health status in a video message on Wednesday night. He said: "Medical tests are being done, results are pretty normal. The ECG is also normal, so I can survive for many days now. I am weak, my muscles are getting weak but my heart and my core are fine," Wangchuk said.

He also appealed people urging him to end the hunger strike to not do so and instead join the 'Sansad Chalo' movement on July 20.

Sonam Wangchuk hunger strike LIVE: Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk on Wednesday shared a video message from Jantar Mantar, where he is currently on a hunger strike. On Day 18 of this strike, Wangchuk described his condition as “not so good but not so bad either".

Defending his continuation of the strike, Wangchuk said: “There are 2 things. First: Even if I eat, what will change? The government will get a message that onus is not needed. Secondly, my condition is not so bad that I would die in 2-4 days.”

Sonam Wangchuk hunger strike LIVE: More voices backing Sonam Wangchuk emerged on Thursday as the climate activist's hunger strike entered Day 19. The CJP shared clips by Marathi acyor Sayaji Shinde and music composer Vishal Dadlani.

Shinde urged the government to intervene and have a dialogue with Sonam Wangchuk. In a video message, Dadlani also backed Sonam Wangchuk and expressed regret that he couldn't join the Jantar Mantar protest due to his US tour.

Sonam Wangchuk hunger strike LIVE: The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) on Thursday said that 1.5 lakh people have so far confirmed their attendance for the Parliament march it has called on July 20. The outfit, led by Abhijit Dipke, also urged others to register their attendance and give a missed call on 70116 70115.

Sonam Wangchuk hunger strike LIVE: The Delhi High Court will hear a plea today that seeks urgent hospitalisation of Sonam Wangchuk, who has been on a hunger strike for 19 days now. The plea, filed by advocate Rakesh Kumar Saini, urges the Centre and the Delhi government to immediately shift Wangchuk to a government hospital, administer medical treatment and, if necessary, force-feed him with a liquid diet to protect his life.

The plea comes amid mounting concerns over Wangchuk's health, with widespread appeals for him to end the hunger strike.

Sonam Wangchuk hunger strike LIVE: An Indian diaspora group has voiced concern over the health of Sonam Wangchuk, who has been on a hunger strike for the past 18 days over the alleged irregularities in the conduct of the NEET exams, and urged the government to reach out to the protestors.

The Hindus for Human Rights, a US-based group, said the protesters have raised serious concerns about examination irregularities, educational governance, institutional accountability, and the consequences suffered by students when public systems fail.

"The government must meet with the protesters, provide a substantive response to the examination and governance failures they have identified, and establish a credible, time-bound process for accountability," the group said in an open letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

(PTI)

Sonam Wangchuk hunger strike LIVE: Stand-up artist Kunal Kamra joined CJP protest on Wednesday. CJP posted the photos of Kamra sharing the stage with founder Abhijeet Dipke.

Sonam Wangchuk hunger strike LIVE: TMC chief Mamata Banerjee said on Wednesday that she had spoken to Sonam Wangchuk.

CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke posted on X on Tuesday, saying Mamata had urged Sonam to stay strong and extended her solidarity with CJP's movement seeking justice for students.

Sonam Wangchuk hunger strike LIVE: Bhim Army chief and Aazad Samaj Party (Kanshi Ram) president Chandrashekhar Azad visited the CJP protest site at Delhi's Jantar Mantar on Wednesday to express solidarity with Sonam Wangchuk, who has been on an indefinite hunger strike for the past 18 days.

Sonam Wangchuk hunger strike LIVE: Cockroach Janta Party Abhijeet Dipke has asked fellow protestors and supporters across the country to mark a day of mass protest on July 16.

“Post photo of your empty plate and use hashtag,” he said.

Sonam Wangchuk hunger strike LIVE: Cockroach Janta Party has provided a number on which it has asked supporters to call and mark their attendance for the July 20 protest to the Parliament.

In its latest update, the party said on X, “1.5 lakh people have confirmed their attendance till now for 20th July. Have you?”

“To mark your attendance, Give a missed call on: 70116 70115”

Sonam Wangchuk hunger strike LIVE: CJP has called for a one-day mass hunger strike on July 16 (today) in solidarity with the climate activist Wangchuk and students across the country.

Sonam Wangchuk hunger strike LIVE: As the hunger strike entered its 19th day on Thursday, leaders from across the political spectrum continue to support the movement. Delhi AAP chief Saurabh Bharadwaj said he will visit the Jantar Mantar at 4 pm to support Wangchuk and Cockroach Janta Party.

“Everyone loves air conditioning but let’s go and sweat at Jantar Mantar. We have to reach Jantar Mantar and salute the real hero named “Sonam Wangchuck” who has been fasting for 18 days. I will reach there tomorrow, 16.07.2026, at 4 PM. Please come,” he said in a post on X.

AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal will also visit the protest site at 5 pm to support Wangchuk and CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke. Earlier, Kejriwal, along with other leaders, had urged the environmentalist to end his fast as his health deteriorated.

Farmer leader Rakesh Tikait will also visit Jantar Mantar to meet Wangchuk.