Twenty days without food. A body running on nothing but resolve. Doctors now warn Sonam Wangchuk’s fast has entered a stage where organs could be affected, as his weight keeps dropping at Jantar Mantar.
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Sonam Wangchuk’s hunger strike at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar has crossed 20 days. Dr Satish Lamba, part of the medical team monitoring him, gave a health update on Friday morning.
Speaking on day 20 of the strike, Dr Lamba said Wangchuk’s weight stood at 56.55 kg as of 9:30 am on July 17. That is a drop of 350 grams in the last 24 hours.
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His blood pressure was recorded at 108/68. Blood sugar stood at 70 mg/dL, and his pulse rate was 72 per minute. Dr Lamba described his hydration as fair, though mild dehydration was observed.
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He explained the stages the body goes through without food. The first stage involves fat loss. This is followed by muscle loss and the formation of ketone bodies in urine. Dr Lamba said Wangchuk has now reached a third stage, where organ involvement becomes possible. He said the medical team is keeping round the clock watch and continuing close monitoring.
#WATCH | Delhi: Sonam Wangchuk’s hunger strike enters day 20, Dr Satish Lamba says, “… It is the 20th day of the hunger strike. As of 9:30 am on 17 July 2026, the key health parameters are as follows. The person’s weight is 56.55 kg, a reduction of 350 grams over the last 24… pic.twitter.com/svgpGlCGA6
— ANI (@ANI) July 17, 2026
Wangchuk, an engineer and climate activist from Ladakh, joined the protest at Jantar Mantar on June 28. The demonstration itself began on June 20, led by the Cockroach Janta Party, a youth-led group founded by activist Abhijeet Dipke.
The CJP has been protesting alleged irregularities in the NEET examination, including technical glitches and paper leaks in May that affected lakhs of students. The group is demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, greater accountability in how exams are conducted, and compensation for families of students who died by suicide after exam-related distress.
Wangchuk is not new to hunger strikes. He has previously fasted in Ladakh and Delhi to demand statehood for Ladakh and its inclusion under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution, a cause he has pursued for years. This time, he joined the students’ cause instead.
As concerns grew over his health, the Delhi High Court heard a public interest litigation seeking intervention. On Thursday, the court directed authorities to monitor Wangchuk’s health daily and ensure medical help is available whenever needed.
The prolonged fast has drawn reactions from opposition leaders. Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav called Wangchuk’s life invaluable, citing his long record of work on democracy and the environment. Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said the Centre should reach out to Wangchuk directly and appeal to him to end the fast, adding that there should be room for compassion even in politics.
So far, the education ministry and the government have not made a detailed public response to the demands raised at Jantar Mantar.
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