Sonam Wangchuk stable under 24/7 care at Safdarjung after prolonged fast
Synopsis
Sonam Wangchuk's prolonged fast has landed him in intensive hospital care, with a joint team from Safdarjung and AIIMS maintaining round-the-clock vigil. His vitals are stable and blood reports show minor improvement — but doctors are not standing down, warning that extended fasting carries serious systemic risks that demand continuous oversight.
Key Takeaways
Sonam Wangchuk is hospitalised at Vardhman Mahavir Medical College and Safdarjung Hospital , New Delhi , following a prolonged fast.
A health bulletin issued on 19 July at 7 PM confirmed his vital parameters are stable with minor improvement in blood reports.
A multidisciplinary team from Safdarjung Hospital and AIIMS, New Delhi is providing round-the-clock clinical monitoring.
Doctors warn that prolonged fasting causes systemic stress affecting multiple organs, requiring continuous medical oversight.
The Medical Superintendent of Safdarjung Hospital confirmed all necessary care is being provided while urging sustained vigilance.
Climate activist and educationist Sonam Wangchuk remains hospitalised at Vardhman Mahavir Medical College and Safdarjung Hospital in New Delhi, where he is receiving intensive medical care following a prolonged fast. A health bulletin issued on Sunday, 19 July, confirmed that his vital parameters are stable, with minor improvement noted in his blood reports.
What the Health Bulletin Says
The bulletin, released at 7 PM on Sunday, stated that Wangchuk is under the supervision of a multidisciplinary team of specialists drawn from both Safdarjung Hospital and AIIMS, New Delhi. The medical teams have determined that round-the-clock clinical monitoring is necessary to detect and manage potential complications at the earliest.
The Medical Superintendent of Safdarjung Hospital confirmed that all necessary care is being provided, while emphasising that sustained medical intervention remains essential given the physiological demands of extended fasting.
Why Prolonged Fasting Poses Medical Risks
Doctors attending to Wangchuk have noted that prolonged fasting exerts systemic stress on the body, potentially affecting multiple organs and their functions. His treatment, they explained, is therefore two-pronged: stabilising his immediate condition while simultaneously anticipating and pre-empting possible complications.
While blood parameters have shown minor improvement, physicians stress that continuous expert supervision is non-negotiable at this stage. The bulletin made clear that the situation demands uninterrupted medical management.
Public Concern and Hospital Response
Wangchuk's hospitalisation has drawn widespread public attention, with supporters expressing concern and calling for his swift recovery. Hospital authorities reiterated that his treatment is being handled with the highest level of medical expertise, underscoring the seriousness of his condition.
What to Watch Next
As of Sunday evening, his vital signs remain stable but doctors are maintaining a cautious outlook. The hospital has indicated that ongoing oversight will continue until the medical team is satisfied that the risks associated with his extended fast have been adequately addressed. Further health bulletins are expected as his condition evolves.
Point of View
Even if the political dimensions of his fast remain unresolved. What the bulletins do not address is the underlying cause: the demands that drove Wangchuk to fast in the first place. Until those are engaged with substantively, the medical vigil at Safdarjung is managing symptoms, not the situation.
NationPress
20 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Sonam Wangchuk's current health condition?
As of the health bulletin issued on 19 July, Sonam Wangchuk's vital parameters are stable and his blood reports show minor improvement. However, doctors stress that round-the-clock medical monitoring remains essential due to the systemic effects of prolonged fasting.
Which hospital is Sonam Wangchuk being treated at?
Wangchuk is receiving intensive care at Vardhman Mahavir Medical College and Safdarjung Hospital in New Delhi. A multidisciplinary team from Safdarjung Hospital and AIIMS, New Delhi is jointly overseeing his treatment.
Why is prolonged fasting medically dangerous?
Prolonged fasting places systemic stress on the body, potentially impairing multiple organs and their functions. Doctors treating Wangchuk have said his care involves both stabilising his immediate condition and anticipating possible complications arising from extended fasting.
Who is Sonam Wangchuk?
Sonam Wangchuk is a Ladakh-based educationist, engineer, and climate activist known for his work in educational reform and sustainable development. He has previously undertaken public fasts to draw attention to issues related to Ladakh's political status and environmental concerns.
Will further health updates be issued?
Hospital authorities have indicated that Wangchuk's condition will continue to be closely monitored and that medical oversight will remain in place until risks from his prolonged fast are adequately managed. Further bulletins are expected as his condition develops.
