Innovator and climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, who was admitted to Delhi's Safdarjung Hospital after completing 21 days of his hunger strike, is weak due to prolonged fasting and dehydration but is currently stable and under continuous medical observation, hospital officials said.
Wangchuk was shifted to Safdarjung Hospital early on Saturday after his health deteriorated. The move came in compliance with the Delhi High Court's directions and on the advice of medical experts.
In its first official statement on his condition, as reported by NDTV, the hospital said, "Sonam Wangchuk was received and admitted at Safdarjung Hospital for required health care at 7.40 a.m. today."
Providing a health update, the hospital added, "He is weak due to prolonged fasting and dehydration. Although he is currently stable, he requires continuous observation, monitoring and treatment to restore his body parameters."
Police personnel reached the protest site at Jantar Mantar on Saturday morning and shifted Wangchuk to the hospital amid sloganeering and protests by fellow activists.
In a post on X, the Deputy Commissioner of Police (New Delhi) said, "As per orders of the Hon'ble High Court and on expert medical advice due to the deteriorating health condition of Sh. Sonam Wangchuk, he has been shifted to the hospital for essential medical care. While complying with the orders of the Hon'ble High Court, the protestors tried to create obstruction, in which slight commotion ensued. However, police exercised maximum restraint and completed the process safely. We request the protestors at Jantar Mantar to peacefully vacate the place at the earliest."
The police action came ahead of a scheduled hearing in the Delhi High Court on Wangchuk's health. Earlier this week, the High Court directed authorities to conduct daily clinical health assessments of the activist, observing that "the life of any citizen is precious" and instructing the Centre to ensure all necessary medical intervention to safeguard his life.
Meanwhile, Wangchuk's wife, Gitanjali J. Angmo, urged that no oral or intravenous treatment be administered to him without the consent of his family and long-term doctors.
"I am at Safdarjung Hospital in Delhi where Sonam Wangchuk has been admitted. Nothing should be administered to him orally or intravenously without the consent of me, his family and his doctors who have been monitoring his health for the past 20 days," she said in a post on X.
Wangchuk launched the hunger strike demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the alleged irregularities in the NEET examination.
He has also called for a march from Jantar Mantar to Parliament House on July 20, the first day of the Monsoon Session, to press for Pradhan's resignation.
