As Sonam Wangchuk hangs on to hunger strike, weight loss approaches 9 kg

Activist Sonam Wangchuk’s indefinite hunger strike demanding Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation entered its 18th day on Wednesday, with his deteriorating health drawing concern from civil society groups, public figures and Opposition leaders, many of whom have urged him to end his fast.

Mr. Wangchuk is close to emaciation, according to medical reports published by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), the organisation leading the protest.

Over the past two weeks, Mr. Wangchuk’s condition has worsened, needing increasing medical supervision. He now requires near round-the-clock monitoring instead of periodic check-ups carried out initially. “Dr. Satish Lamba, General Physician and Medical Superintendent at The Clinics, Hauz Khas, New Delhi, and former Secretary of the Delhi Medical Association (DMA), said that Sonam Wangchuk remains very weak and is under 24-hour medical vigilance due to his prolonged fast,” the CJP said in a statement on Wednesday (July 15, 2026).

Weight loss

Mr. Wangchuk, 59, has lost 8.9 kg since he began fasting, according to a review of his condition published by the CJP over the past week. “According to the latest health bulletin, Sonam Wangchuk’s weight has dropped to 57.15 kg, down 400 grams from 57.55 kg recorded yesterday,” the CJP said. “His blood sugar level is 80 mg/dL, hydration is fair, he remains mentally alert, and blood pressure is 105/76 mmHg.”

He also has to deal with the potential complications arising from his earlier prolonged fasts. He went on two separate hunger strikes for over twenty days in 2024 while protesting issues on Ladakh’s conservation and autonomy.

Salt water only

Mr. Wangchuk has only been drinking salt water since beginning the fast, and as of Wednesday (July 15, 2026) morning, has not been put on intravenous drips as was the case with Anna Hazare when the latter was fasting during the India Against Corruption movement in 2011. Mr. Wangchuk has largely been lying in a fixed position on a makeshift bed with an elevated headrest.

Despite his weak health, the Ladakhi activist has continued to speak to CJP’s leaders. Late Tuesday evening (July 14, 2026), Mr. Wangchuk was escorted to the restroom. After he returned, he engaged in a prolonged discussion with CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke and spokespersons Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka.

Later, Mr. Dipke wrote on X that Mr. Wangchuk had rejected pleas to end his fast and demanded that the government initiate a dialogue.

Struggling with noise

Mr. Wangchuk has so far complained very little about the hardship of the hunger strike, but with one exception: the noise around the Jantar Mantar protest site.

Habituated to the relatively quiet, high-altitude environment of Ladakh, he appealed on X on July 2 for someone to bring his noise-cancelling earphones (a now-discontinued model that is no longer available for purchase) from Bengaluru. “The noise here is killing me,” he wrote, amid a fast unto death.

According to CJP sources, Mr. Wangchuk has received his earphones.

Published – July 15, 2026 04:57 pm IST