Activist Sonam Wangchuk, who was taken to Safdarjung Hospital after a 20-day hunger strike, has refused intravenous fluids, oral rehydration solution and other medications despite signs of dehydration and metabolic abnormalities, hospital authorities said on Saturday (July 18, 2026).
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He is being continuously monitored and counselled to accept treatment in the interest of his health, they said.
“Although intravenous fluids were advised, the patient has refused all intravenous fluids, oral rehydration fluid or any other medication,” the statement said.
Mr. Wangchuk was brought to the hospital by Delhi Police and admitted at 7:40 a.m. with a history of fasting from solid food for 20 days and generalised weakness. There is no history of fainting attacks, the hospital said in a health bulletin.
At the time of admission, he was conscious with a stable pulse, blood pressure and oxygen saturation. Signs of dehydration were seen, it said.
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Blood gas analysis revealed compensated acidosis with decreased serum potassium with a blood sugar of 78 mg/dl. The repeat serum potassium test was similar. Urinary ketones were 1+ at the time of admission, which increased to 3+ by 1 pm, it said.
Shortly after his hospitalisation, his wife Gitanjali J. Angmo said that no medical treatment should be administered to the activist without her consent.
In a post on X, Ms. Angmo said, “Nothing should be administered to him orally or intravenous without taking consent from me, his family and his doctors who have been monitoring his health for the past 20 days.” Questioning the decision to hospitalise him, she claimed Mr. Wangchuk appeared fine on Friday (July 17, 2026). “Yesterday, he was doing fine. There was no need to bring him to the hospital,” she added.
Gitanjali Angmo at Safdarjung Hospital, where activist Sonam Wangchuk was admitted on July 18, 2026. | Photo Credit: Special arrangement
The Delhi Police said that Mr. Wangchuk was shifted to the hospital for “essential medical care” following expert medical advice and in compliance with the Delhi High Court’s orders.
(With inputs from PTI)
Published - July 18, 2026 09:52 am IST