Tensions Simmer in Leh Over Statehood Demand, at Least 4 Dead

The Leh Police arrested climate activist Sonam Wangchuk on Friday after days of violent protests rocked Ladakh, leaving 4 people dead and over 70 injured. Wangchuk was arrested under the National Security Act (NSA) for allegedly inciting the protestors demanding statehood for the Union Territory

Tensions Simmer in Leh Over Statehood Demand, at Least 4 Dead

<p>The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has started looking into possible violations of the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) by organisations linked to Sonam Wangchuk, the Ladakh-based educationist and climate activist. According to officials, irregularities were found in the accounts of the Himalayan Institute of Alternatives, Ladakh (HIAL), the Students’ Educational and Cultural Movement of Ladakh (SECMOL), and Wangchuk’s private company, Sheshyon Innovations Pvt Ltd (SIPL). The concerns mainly involve foreign contributions and fund transfers.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>This comes shortly after violent protests in Leh over the demand for Ladakh’s statehood, in which four people were killed and many injured. The Union Home Ministry said that the clashes happened after “provocative speeches and statements” by Wangchuk, who had been on a hunger strike since Sep 10. He ended the strike following the violent protest.</p><h2>What are the findings on HIAL?</h2><p>According to some reports, the donations to HIAL have rapidly increased from ₹6 crore in 2023–24 to over ₹15 crore in 2024–25. HIAL is also said to have received over ₹1.5 crore in foreign funds without a valid FCRA licence. A transfer of around ₹6.5 crore from HIAL to Sheshyon Innovations has also been spotted during the investigation.</p><h2>What are the issues with Sheshyon Innovations</h2><p>Sheshyon Innovations, in which Wangchuk and his wife are directors, has reported a fall in profits in 2024-25 compared to the previous year. The company has maintained three accounts, in which two are undeclared, and reportedly received ₹6.5 crore from HIAL, including foreign funds. A new account opened by the Sheshyon in 2023 has raised suspicion of being used to excess funds without proper paperwork.</p><h2>On getting foreign funds in personal accounts</h2><p>Wangchuk is also said to have nine personal accounts, of which eight are not declared. Between 2018 and 2024, these accounts allegedly received foreign transfers worth ₹1.68 crore. Between 2021 and 2024, around ₹3.23 crore was reportedly sent abroad, raising possible concerns under money-laundering rules.&nbsp;</p><h2>What are the regulatory concerns on this matter</h2><p>Despite its FCRA registration being denied in 2020, HIAL allegedly received ₹1.63 crore in foreign remittances through an HDFC bank account, but its audited reports claimed “nil” foreign earnings in 2020-21 and 2021-22, though actual inflows were ₹23 lakh and ₹47.6 lakh. These transfers of money may lead to violations under the Companies Act and the Indian Penal Code.</p>

According to officials, irregularities were found in the accounts of HIAL, the Students’ Educational and Cultural Movement of Ladakh (SECMOL), and Sonam Wangchuk's private company, SIPL. This comes after the Centre accused Wangchuk of inciting violence in the Ladakh protest.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has started looking into possible violations of the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) by organisations linked to Sonam Wangchuk, the Ladakh-based educationist and climate activist. According to officials, irregularities were found in the accounts of the Himalayan Institute of Alternatives, Ladakh (HIAL), the Students’ Educational and Cultural Movement of Ladakh (SECMOL), and Wangchuk’s private company, Sheshyon Innovations Pvt Ltd (SIPL). The concerns mainly involve foreign contributions and fund transfers. This comes shortly after violent protests in Leh over the demand for Ladakh’s statehood, in which four people were killed and many injured. The Union Home Ministry said that the clashes happened after “provocative speeches and statements” by Wangchuk, who had been on a hunger strike since Sep 10. He ended the strike following the violent protest. What are the findings on HIAL? According to some reports, the donations to HIAL have rapidly increased from ₹6 crore in 2023–24 to over ₹15 crore in 2024–25. HIAL is also said to have received over ₹1.5 crore in foreign funds without a valid FCRA licence. A transfer of around ₹6.5 crore from HIAL to Sheshyon Innovations has also been spotted during the investigation. What are the issues with Sheshyon Innovations Sheshyon Innovations, in which Wangchuk and his wife are directors, has reported a fall in profits in 2024-25 compared to the previous year. The company has maintained three accounts, in which two are undeclared, and reportedly received ₹6.5 crore from HIAL, including foreign funds. A new account opened by the Sheshyon in 2023 has raised suspicion of being used to excess funds without proper paperwork. On getting foreign funds in personal accounts Wangchuk is also said to have nine personal accounts, of which eight are not declared. Between 2018 and 2024, these accounts allegedly received foreign transfers worth ₹1.68 crore. Between 2021 and 2024, around ₹3.23 crore was reportedly sent abroad, raising possible concerns under money-laundering rules. What are the regulatory concerns on this matter Despite its FCRA registration being denied in 2020, HIAL allegedly received ₹1.63 crore in foreign remittances through an HDFC bank account, but its audited reports claimed “nil” foreign earnings in 2020-21 and 2021-22, though actual inflows were ₹23 lakh and ₹47.6 lakh. These transfers of money may lead to violations under the Companies Act and the Indian Penal Code.

<p>According to officials, irregularities were found in the accounts of HIAL, the Students’ Educational and Cultural Movement of Ladakh (SECMOL), and Sonam Wangchuk's private company, SIPL. This comes after the Centre accused Wangchuk of inciting violence in the Ladakh protest.</p>

Sonam Wangchuk-linked accounts under CBI scanner over financial irregularities amid Ladakh protests

On September 24, 2025, violence erupted in Leh as protesters set fire to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) office and a CRPF van. In this context, it is essential to understand the history of the region, its recognition as a Union Territory, and the strategic and cultural importance it holds.

Ladakh statehood protests: From ancient trade hub to India’s strategic union territory

<p>Lt Governor of Ladakh, Kavinder Gupta, today chaired a high-level security review meeting to assess the emerging situation across Ladakh, emphasising the need for heightened vigilance, seamless inter-agency coordination, &amp; proactive measures to safeguard peace, security, &amp; public order across the Union Territory.&nbsp;<br>All the Political leadership in the Ladakh region have called for calm and peace. &nbsp;Although the KDA leader and former legislator, Asghar Ali Karbalai, has lashed out at the centre, saying everyone in the Kargil division wants to send a message to the Government of India that Ladakhis wouldn’t bow down to you. You need to stop witch-hunting &amp; targeting leadership.<br>Earlier, National Conference President Farooq Abdullah had also hit out at the centre and said that the initiation of a CBI inquiry against Sonam Wangchuk raises concerns about the use of state agencies to suppress dissent. The government must avoid heavy-handed tactics, as excessive use of force risks further inflaming the situation.&nbsp;<br>Asghar Ali Karbalai, KDA leader, stated that for five years, Ladakhis have demanded four key issues, engaging repeatedly with the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). Despite assurances of sincerity, the MHA has stalled talks, particularly since May. A hunger strike and peaceful protests in Leh followed, during which two women fell ill, yet the MHA remained unresponsive. On the 11th day of the strike, talks were announced with delayed dates, leaving people feeling deceived. This frustration led to protests yesterday, which were met with force by paramilitary forces, resulting in four deaths and numerous injuries, with six in critical condition and 40 still hospitalised.&nbsp;<br>Karbalai condemned the administration’s use of force, selective arrests, and "witch-hunting," urging immediate talks with KDA and APEX. He honoured the deceased as heroes and warned that continued harshness could lead to further unrest, for which the administration would be responsible.<br>The tragic violence in Leh claimed several lives, leaving the region in mourning. Today, the authorities handed over the mortal remains of the deceased to their grieving families. This follows a period of heightened tension and unrest in the Union Territory, where peaceful protests escalated into violent clashes, resulting in loss.</p>

All the Political leadership in the Ladakh region have called for calm and peace. Although the KDA leader and former legislator, Asghar Ali Karbalai, has lashed out at the centre, saying everyone in the Kargil division wants to send a message to the Government of India that Ladakhis wouldn’t bow down to you.

Lt Governor of Ladakh, Kavinder Gupta, today chaired a high-level security review meeting to assess the emerging situation across Ladakh, emphasising the need for heightened vigilance, seamless inter-agency coordination, & proactive measures to safeguard peace, security, & public order across the Union Territory. All the Political leadership in the Ladakh region have called for calm and peace. Although the KDA leader and former legislator, Asghar Ali Karbalai, has lashed out at the centre, saying everyone in the Kargil division wants to send a message to the Government of India that Ladakhis wouldn’t bow down to you. You need to stop witch-hunting & targeting leadership. Earlier, National Conference President Farooq Abdullah had also hit out at the centre and said that the initiation of a CBI inquiry against Sonam Wangchuk raises concerns about the use of state agencies to suppress dissent. The government must avoid heavy-handed tactics, as excessive use of force risks further inflaming the situation. Asghar Ali Karbalai, KDA leader, stated that for five years, Ladakhis have demanded four key issues, engaging repeatedly with the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). Despite assurances of sincerity, the MHA has stalled talks, particularly since May. A hunger strike and peaceful protests in Leh followed, during which two women fell ill, yet the MHA remained unresponsive. On the 11th day of the strike, talks were announced with delayed dates, leaving people feeling deceived. This frustration led to protests yesterday, which were met with force by paramilitary forces, resulting in four deaths and numerous injuries, with six in critical condition and 40 still hospitalised. Karbalai condemned the administration’s use of force, selective arrests, and "witch-hunting," urging immediate talks with KDA and APEX. He honoured the deceased as heroes and warned that continued harshness could lead to further unrest, for which the administration would be responsible. The tragic violence in Leh claimed several lives, leaving the region in mourning. Today, the authorities handed over the mortal remains of the deceased to their grieving families. This follows a period of heightened tension and unrest in the Union Territory, where peaceful protests escalated into violent clashes, resulting in loss.

<p>All the Political leadership in the Ladakh region have called for calm and peace. Although the KDA leader and former legislator, Asghar Ali Karbalai, has lashed out at the centre, saying everyone in the Kargil division wants to send a message to the Government of India that Ladakhis wouldn’t bow down to you.</p>

Ladakh LG holds security meet as KDA slams Centre over ‘witch-hunt’ of leaders

<p>The government of India on Wednesday (Sep 24) accused climate activist Sonam Wangchuk for the violent protests in the Leh, in which four people were dead and over 60 injured. Protesters were demanding statehood for Ladakh and implementation of the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution. The Ministry of Home Affairs said Wangchuk’s “provocative statements” triggered the unrest. According to officials, his hunger strike and speeches encouraged the crowd and later they attacked BJP and government offices, set vehicles and buildings on fire and injured more than 30 police and CRPF personnel.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Earlier, the demonstrations turned violent, leading to clashes with police. Security forces responded with tear gas shells and baton charges. Following the violence, authorities imposed a curfew in Leh and banned gatherings of more than five people. Following this, Wangchuk called off his hunger strike and urged people to stay peaceful.&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Also Read - </strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/indian-government-blames-sonam-wangchuk-for-violence-in-ladakh-protest-provocative-mentions-of-arab-spring-nepal-genz-protest-1758734937453"><strong>Indian government blames Sonam Wangchuk for violence in Ladakh protest: 'Provocative mentions of Arab Spring, Nepal GenZ protest'</strong></a></p><h2>Who is Sonam Wangchuk?</h2><p>Sonam Wangchuk is an engineer and education reformer from Ladakh, known for his eco-friendly innovations. He designed the SECMOL campus, which runs entirely on solar power without using fossil fuels for cooking, heating and lighting. Wangchuk gained limelight in 2009 with Aamir Khan's 3 Idiots, directed by Rajkumar Hirani, which is inspired by his life story. While many refer to him as "The real life Phunsukh Wangdu", he denies it.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Born in 1966 near Alchi in Leh district, Wangchuk studied in Srinagar in his early days but later moved to Delhi for higher education. He pursued Mechanical Engineering at NIT Srinagar in 1987, and went on to found SECMOL (Students’ Educational and Cultural Movement of Ladakh). Through projects like “Operation New Hope,” he worked with locals and the government to improve education in the region. He also went for Earthen Architecture at Craterre School of Architecture in Grenoble, France, in 2011.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Also Read - </strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/ladakh-protest-kills-4-sonam-wangchuk-calls-off-hunger-strike-what-are-the-key-demands-of-protesters-1758726325882"><strong>Ladakh protest kills 4, Sonam Wangchuk calls off hunger strike - What are the key demands of protesters?</strong></a></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Over the years, Wangchuk has been involved in various NGOs, edited Ladags Melong magazine, and created sustainable solutions such as the Ice Stupa (an artificial glacier to store water) and solar-powered tents for the Indian Army. Previously in March 2024, he went on a fast-unto-death to demand constitutional safeguards. He advocates protection from industrial and mining lobbies in Ladakh and also started a 21-day Climate Fast.</p>



Previously in March 2024, he went on a fast-unto-death to demand constitutional safeguards. He advocates protection from industrial and mining lobbies in Ladakh and also started a 21-day Climate Fast.

The government of India on Wednesday (Sep 24) accused climate activist Sonam Wangchuk for the violent protests in the Leh, in which four people were dead and over 60 injured. Protesters were demanding statehood for Ladakh and implementation of the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution. The Ministry of Home Affairs said Wangchuk’s “provocative statements” triggered the unrest. According to officials, his hunger strike and speeches encouraged the crowd and later they attacked BJP and government offices, set vehicles and buildings on fire and injured more than 30 police and CRPF personnel. Earlier, the demonstrations turned violent, leading to clashes with police. Security forces responded with tear gas shells and baton charges. Following the violence, authorities imposed a curfew in Leh and banned gatherings of more than five people. Following this, Wangchuk called off his hunger strike and urged people to stay peaceful. Also Read - Indian government blames Sonam Wangchuk for violence in Ladakh protest: 'Provocative mentions of Arab Spring, Nepal GenZ protest' Who is Sonam Wangchuk? Sonam Wangchuk is an engineer and education reformer from Ladakh, known for his eco-friendly innovations. He designed the SECMOL campus, which runs entirely on solar power without using fossil fuels for cooking, heating and lighting. Wangchuk gained limelight in 2009 with Aamir Khan's 3 Idiots, directed by Rajkumar Hirani, which is inspired by his life story. While many refer to him as "The real life Phunsukh Wangdu", he denies it. Born in 1966 near Alchi in Leh district, Wangchuk studied in Srinagar in his early days but later moved to Delhi for higher education. He pursued Mechanical Engineering at NIT Srinagar in 1987, and went on to found SECMOL (Students’ Educational and Cultural Movement of Ladakh). Through projects like “Operation New Hope,” he worked with locals and the government to improve education in the region. He also went for Earthen Architecture at Craterre School of Architecture in Grenoble, France, in 2011. Also Read - Ladakh protest kills 4, Sonam Wangchuk calls off hunger strike - What are the key demands of protesters? Over the years, Wangchuk has been involved in various NGOs, edited Ladags Melong magazine, and created sustainable solutions such as the Ice Stupa (an artificial glacier to store water) and solar-powered tents for the Indian Army. Previously in March 2024, he went on a fast-unto-death to demand constitutional safeguards. He advocates protection from industrial and mining lobbies in Ladakh and also started a 21-day Climate Fast.

<p>Previously in March 2024, he went on a fast-unto-death to demand constitutional safeguards. He advocates protection from industrial and mining lobbies in Ladakh and also started a 21-day Climate Fast.</p>

Who is Sonam Wangchuk? Person behind Ladakh protest, now accused by Centre for violence through 'provocative statements'

<p>Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, who has emerged as the voice of the people of Ladakh, expressed his determination to stay away from politics as he pushed ahead with his demand for the region's inclusion in the Sixth Schedule with his indefinite hunger strike on Sunday (Oct&nbsp;6) in the national capital.</p>

<p>With Wangchuk emerging as a strong representative of Ladakh - a sparsely populated&nbsp;union territory of India - he is known to have been receiving invitations to join from various political parties across the nation.</p>

<p>Recently, when he was detained at the Singhu border by the police as he led the 'Delhi Chalo Padayatra’, Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party leader Atishi&nbsp;had tried to meet Wangchuk but was unable to do so.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Speaking exclusively to WION, Wangchuk - who is not new to politics - said that he would like to steer away from any political party.</p>

<p>"If I wanted to join a political party, I would have done so in the last 30 years. So, if I have not joined any political party yet, why would I do so now?" he said.</p>

<p>Wangchuk’s father Sonam Wangyal was a Congress leader and later also became a minister in the Jammu and Kashmir state government.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/sonam-wangchuk-begins-hunger-fast-at-ladakh-bhawan-hopes-for-resumption-of-talks-with-govt-764987">Sonam Wangchuk&nbsp;begins hunger strike at Ladakh Bhawan, hopes for resumption of talks with govt</a></p>

<p>However, Wangchuk said that he does not want to side with any political party and that all the parties should support this "just demand" of Ladakh.</p>

<p>"I want every political party to support us, including the BJP. The political parties should support this very fair and just demand of the people of Ladakh. However, we do not want to side with any one political party," the activist said while speaking to WION.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Sixth schedule will ensure democracy at grassroot level, says Wangchuk</strong></h2>

<p>Wangchuk said that through this agitation they only want to resume the broken talks with the government regarding their four-point agenda - which clearly demands Ladakh's statehood, its inclusion in the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution, separate Lok Sabha seats for Leh and Kargil districts and a public service commission for Ladakh.</p>

<p>Speaking about why Ladakh needs to be included in the Sixth Schedule to WION, Wangchuk said, "It gives democracy at the grassroot level in regions that have a high percentage of indigenous tribal population. Ladakh has more than 90 per cent indigenous population. With the inclusion of the region in the Sixth Schedule, Ladakh will have autonomous district councils where the local people's representatives can make laws regarding their own customs, land, forests and so on. This, I think, will be the best way to safeguard the fragile ecology of the region."</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/who-is-sonam-wangchuk-the-ladakh-activist-detained-in-delhi-for-36-hours-764101">Who is Sonam Wangchuk, the Ladakh activist detained in Delhi for 36 hours?</a></p>

<p>The Sixth Schedule, which falls under Article 244, provides for the formation of Autonomous District Councils (ADCs) that enjoy some administrative, judicial, and legislative autonomy in the state.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Almost 30 members constitute these ADCs and serve a tenure of five years during which they are free to make rules, laws and regulations regarding agriculture, water, forest, health, sanitation, land, village councils, social customs, marriage and divorce, inheritance, town- and village-level policing, mining, etc.</p>

<p>Sonam Wangchuk was known for his education reforms and innovations in the tough terrains of Ladakh. However, he shot to fame when Bollywood actor Aamir Khan played the role of Phunsukh Wangdu in the movie <em>3 Idiots</em> based on him.&nbsp;</p>


Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, who has emerged as the voice of the people of Ladakh, expressed his determination to stay away from politics as he pushed ahead with his demand for the region's inclusion in the Sixth Schedule with his indefinite hunger strike on Sunday (Oct 6) in the national capital.

Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, who has emerged as the voice of the people of Ladakh, expressed his determination to stay away from politics as he pushed ahead with his demand for the region's inclusion in the Sixth Schedule with his indefinite hunger strike on Sunday (Oct 6) in the national capital. With Wangchuk emerging as a strong representative of Ladakh - a sparsely populated union territory of India - he is known to have been receiving invitations to join from various political parties across the nation. Recently, when he was detained at the Singhu border by the police as he led the 'Delhi Chalo Padayatra’, Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party leader Atishi had tried to meet Wangchuk but was unable to do so. Speaking exclusively to WION, Wangchuk - who is not new to politics - said that he would like to steer away from any political party. "If I wanted to join a political party, I would have done so in the last 30 years. So, if I have not joined any political party yet, why would I do so now?" he said. Wangchuk’s father Sonam Wangyal was a Congress leader and later also became a minister in the Jammu and Kashmir state government. Also Read: Sonam Wangchuk begins hunger strike at Ladakh Bhawan, hopes for resumption of talks with govt However, Wangchuk said that he does not want to side with any political party and that all the parties should support this "just demand" of Ladakh. "I want every political party to support us, including the BJP. The political parties should support this very fair and just demand of the people of Ladakh. However, we do not want to side with any one political party," the activist said while speaking to WION. Sixth schedule will ensure democracy at grassroot level, says Wangchuk Wangchuk said that through this agitation they only want to resume the broken talks with the government regarding their four-point agenda - which clearly demands Ladakh's statehood, its inclusion in the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution, separate Lok Sabha seats for Leh and Kargil districts and a public service commission for Ladakh. Speaking about why Ladakh needs to be included in the Sixth Schedule to WION, Wangchuk said, "It gives democracy at the grassroot level in regions that have a high percentage of indigenous tribal population. Ladakh has more than 90 per cent indigenous population. With the inclusion of the region in the Sixth Schedule, Ladakh will have autonomous district councils where the local people's representatives can make laws regarding their own customs, land, forests and so on. This, I think, will be the best way to safeguard the fragile ecology of the region." Also Read: Who is Sonam Wangchuk, the Ladakh activist detained in Delhi for 36 hours? The Sixth Schedule, which falls under Article 244, provides for the formation of Autonomous District Councils (ADCs) that enjoy some administrative, judicial, and legislative autonomy in the state. Almost 30 members constitute these ADCs and serve a tenure of five years during which they are free to make rules, laws and regulations regarding agriculture, water, forest, health, sanitation, land, village councils, social customs, marriage and divorce, inheritance, town- and village-level policing, mining, etc. Sonam Wangchuk was known for his education reforms and innovations in the tough terrains of Ladakh. However, he shot to fame when Bollywood actor Aamir Khan played the role of Phunsukh Wangdu in the movie 3 Idiots based on him.

Is Sonam Wangchuk's protest over Sixth Schedule for Ladakh 'politically aligned'? Here's what he told WION

<p>Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, who was recently detained by police on reaching&nbsp;the Singhu border of India's national capital while leading the 'Delhi Chalo Padayatra’,&nbsp;sat on an indefinite hunger strike in Ladakh Bhawan on Sunday evening (Oct. 6) while raising the demand of resumption of talks with the government.</p>

<p>Wangchuk and the other protesters had sought permission to continue their protest at Jantar Mantar and raise their demand for the inclusion of the union territory under the Sixth Schedule status.</p>

<p>However, they were denied permission to protest at Jantar Mantar, after which they decided to find another venue.</p>

<p>While interacting with media personnel, Wangchuk said that they had failed to find any venue to stage a protest and hence, decided to start their hunger strike from Ladakh Bhavan where they have been putting up since the last few days.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/who-is-sonam-wangchuk-the-ladakh-activist-detained-in-delhi-for-36-hours-764101">Who is Sonam Wangchuk, the Ladakh activist detained in Delhi for 36 hours?</a></p>

<p>"We were seeking a place where we could hold our peaceful hunger strike but we weren't given that place. So we had no option but to begin (a hunger strike) from Ladakh Bhavan where we were virtually detained... The assurance that we were given to meet the top leadership of the country, we haven't been given any dates for that so we were forced to start our hunger strike again, which we broke on Rajghat..," said Wangchuk, while speaking to media.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Our appeal has always been the same - after walking for 30 to 32 days, we have come here and would like to meet some of the top leaders of our country in the capital to share our grievances with them," he added.</p>

<h2><strong>Wangchuk says 'protest will continue' till demands met&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>Nearly 18 people, including activist Wangchuk, sat near the gate of the Ladakh Bhavan and raised slogans like “Save Ladakh, Save Himalaya”, "Bharat Mata Ki Jai” and “Jai Ladakh” amid deployment of heavy police personnel.</p>

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<p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DAx7-ftSYnk/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;" target="_blank">A post shared by Sonam Wangchuk (@wangchuksworld)</a></p>
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<p>Wangchuk had led 'Delhi Chalo Padayatra’, which started in Leh and was organised by Leh Apex Body and the Kargil Democratic Alliance.&nbsp;</p>

<p>For the last four years, the protesters have been demanding Ladakh's statehood, its inclusion in the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution, separate Lok Sabha seats for Leh and Kargil districts and a public service commission for Ladakh.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-activist-sonam-wangchuk-released-from-detention-to-meet-pm-modi-or-president-soon-764032">India: Activist Sonam Wangchuk released from detention; to meet PM Modi or president soon</a></p>

<p>When Wangchuk reached the national capital's border, he&nbsp;was detained along with the other protesters for violating prohibitory orders.</p>

<p>Informing about the detention on X, Wangchuk wrote,&nbsp;"I AM BEING DETAINED... along with 150 padyatris at Delhi border by a police force of hundreds... some say 1,000. Many elderly men and women in their 80s and a few dozen Army veterans... Our fate is unknown."</p>

<p>Speaking to WION, Wangchuk said that he and the protesters were "not at all" expecting such a welcome in the national capital amid their peaceful protest.&nbsp;</p>

<p>He said this hunger strike "will continue" till their demands are met and added that all they want is to "resume the talks" with the government.</p>

<p>He had ended his hunger strike at Rajghat on October 2 after he was assured that he would meet the country’s senior leaders to discuss the demands by October 4. However, after the officials failed to give any specific date to Wangchuk, he decided to again go on a fast.</p>


Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, who was recently detained by police on reaching the Singhu border of India's national capital while leading the 'Delhi Chalo Padayatra’, sat on an indefinite hunger strike in Ladakh Bhawan on Sunday evening (Oct.

Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, who was recently detained by police on reaching the Singhu border of India's national capital while leading the 'Delhi Chalo Padayatra’, sat on an indefinite hunger strike in Ladakh Bhawan on Sunday evening (Oct. 6) while raising the demand of resumption of talks with the government. Wangchuk and the other protesters had sought permission to continue their protest at Jantar Mantar and raise their demand for the inclusion of the union territory under the Sixth Schedule status. However, they were denied permission to protest at Jantar Mantar, after which they decided to find another venue. While interacting with media personnel, Wangchuk said that they had failed to find any venue to stage a protest and hence, decided to start their hunger strike from Ladakh Bhavan where they have been putting up since the last few days. Also Read: Who is Sonam Wangchuk, the Ladakh activist detained in Delhi for 36 hours? "We were seeking a place where we could hold our peaceful hunger strike but we weren't given that place. So we had no option but to begin (a hunger strike) from Ladakh Bhavan where we were virtually detained... The assurance that we were given to meet the top leadership of the country, we haven't been given any dates for that so we were forced to start our hunger strike again, which we broke on Rajghat..," said Wangchuk, while speaking to media. "Our appeal has always been the same - after walking for 30 to 32 days, we have come here and would like to meet some of the top leaders of our country in the capital to share our grievances with them," he added. Wangchuk says 'protest will continue' till demands met Nearly 18 people, including activist Wangchuk, sat near the gate of the Ladakh Bhavan and raised slogans like “Save Ladakh, Save Himalaya”, "Bharat Mata Ki Jai” and “Jai Ladakh” amid deployment of heavy police personnel. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Sonam Wangchuk (@wangchuksworld) × Wangchuk had led 'Delhi Chalo Padayatra’, which started in Leh and was organised by Leh Apex Body and the Kargil Democratic Alliance. For the last four years, the protesters have been demanding Ladakh's statehood, its inclusion in the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution, separate Lok Sabha seats for Leh and Kargil districts and a public service commission for Ladakh. Also Read: India: Activist Sonam Wangchuk released from detention; to meet PM Modi or president soon When Wangchuk reached the national capital's border, he was detained along with the other protesters for violating prohibitory orders. Informing about the detention on X, Wangchuk wrote, "I AM BEING DETAINED... along with 150 padyatris at Delhi border by a police force of hundreds... some say 1,000. Many elderly men and women in their 80s and a few dozen Army veterans... Our fate is unknown." Speaking to WION, Wangchuk said that he and the protesters were "not at all" expecting such a welcome in the national capital amid their peaceful protest. He said this hunger strike "will continue" till their demands are met and added that all they want is to "resume the talks" with the government. He had ended his hunger strike at Rajghat on October 2 after he was assured that he would meet the country’s senior leaders to discuss the demands by October 4. However, after the officials failed to give any specific date to Wangchuk, he decided to again go on a fast.

Sonam Wangchuk begins hunger strike at Ladakh Bhawan, hopes for resumption of talks with govt

<p>Ladakh&nbsp;activist&nbsp;Sonam Wangchuk, who was detained by the Delhi Police, was released from Bawana Police Station on Wednesday (Oct 2) evening. Wangchuk said the home ministry had assured him of a meeting with either the prime minister or president soon to address his concerns.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Wangchuk, along with around 120 others from&nbsp;Ladakh, was detained on Monday night, September 30, 2024, at the&nbsp;Delhi-Haryana border.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“We faced some difficulties upon arriving in Delhi due to the detention, but everything happens for a reason, and we are glad that our message of environmental conservation reached more people. We have submitted a memorandum to the government, urging protection for Ladakh under constitutional provisions to safeguard the Himalayas,” said Wangchuk.</p>

<p>Wangchuk and his supporters were detained while marching from Leh to Delhi to demand constitutional safeguards for&nbsp;Ladakh. The march, which began on September 1, was set to culminate at Rajghat on October 2, Mahatma Gandhi's birth anniversary.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-activist-sonam-wangchuk-and-others-detained-in-delhi-launch-indefinite-fast-763482"><strong>Also&nbsp;read |&nbsp;India: Activist Sonam Wangchuk and others detained in Delhi, launch indefinite fast</strong></a></p>

<p>Earlier,&nbsp;Ladakh's Member of Parliament,&nbsp;Mohmad Haneefa, was released by the&nbsp;Delhi police, the MP confirmed.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Haneefa was detained by&nbsp;Delhi police&nbsp;on Tuesday, a day after more than hundred protesters from&nbsp;Ladakh, including&nbsp;Sonam Wangchuk, were held at the&nbsp;Delhi-Haryana border.&nbsp;</p>

<p>On October 1, the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) and Apex Body, Leh had called for a bandh across&nbsp;Ladakh&nbsp;following the detention of renowned activist&nbsp;Sonam Wangchuk&nbsp;on Monday night.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/why-is-sonam-wangchuk-on-a-hunger-strike-in-ladakh-what-are-his-demands-702624" target="_blank"><strong>Watch |&nbsp;Why is Sonam Wangchuk on a hunger strike in Ladakh? What are his demands?</strong></a></p>

<p><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/why-is-sonam-wangchuk-on-a-hunger-strike-in-ladakh-what-are-his-demands-702624/embed" width="560"></iframe></p>

<p>Shops in&nbsp;Ladakh&nbsp;were closed as residents demanded Wangchuk's release and advocated for the sixth schedule to safeguard the region's rights. Wangchuk and other volunteers had embarked on a foot march from Leh to New Delhi to urge the Centre to resume dialogue with&nbsp;Ladakh's leadership regarding their demands.&nbsp;</p>

<p>One of their key demands is for&nbsp;Ladakh&nbsp;to be included in the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution, granting law-making powers to the local population to protect their land and cultural identity.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The march was organised by the Leh Apex Body (LAB) in coordination with the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA), both of which have been leading an agitation for the past four years.</p>

<p><em>Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.</em></p>


Ladakh activist Sonam Wangchuk, who was detained by the Delhi Police, was released from Bawana Police Station on Wednesday (Oct 2) evening. Wangchuk said the home ministry had assured him of a meeting with either the prime minister or president soon to address his concerns.

Ladakh activist Sonam Wangchuk, who was detained by the Delhi Police, was released from Bawana Police Station on Wednesday (Oct 2) evening. Wangchuk said the home ministry had assured him of a meeting with either the prime minister or president soon to address his concerns. Wangchuk, along with around 120 others from Ladakh, was detained on Monday night, September 30, 2024, at the Delhi-Haryana border. “We faced some difficulties upon arriving in Delhi due to the detention, but everything happens for a reason, and we are glad that our message of environmental conservation reached more people. We have submitted a memorandum to the government, urging protection for Ladakh under constitutional provisions to safeguard the Himalayas,” said Wangchuk. Wangchuk and his supporters were detained while marching from Leh to Delhi to demand constitutional safeguards for Ladakh. The march, which began on September 1, was set to culminate at Rajghat on October 2, Mahatma Gandhi's birth anniversary. Also read | India: Activist Sonam Wangchuk and others detained in Delhi, launch indefinite fast Earlier, Ladakh's Member of Parliament, Mohmad Haneefa, was released by the Delhi police, the MP confirmed. Haneefa was detained by Delhi police on Tuesday, a day after more than hundred protesters from Ladakh, including Sonam Wangchuk, were held at the Delhi-Haryana border. On October 1, the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) and Apex Body, Leh had called for a bandh across Ladakh following the detention of renowned activist Sonam Wangchuk on Monday night. Watch | Why is Sonam Wangchuk on a hunger strike in Ladakh? What are his demands? Shops in Ladakh were closed as residents demanded Wangchuk's release and advocated for the sixth schedule to safeguard the region's rights. Wangchuk and other volunteers had embarked on a foot march from Leh to New Delhi to urge the Centre to resume dialogue with Ladakh's leadership regarding their demands. One of their key demands is for Ladakh to be included in the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution, granting law-making powers to the local population to protect their land and cultural identity. The march was organised by the Leh Apex Body (LAB) in coordination with the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA), both of which have been leading an agitation for the past four years. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

India: Activist Sonam Wangchuk released from detention; to meet PM Modi or president soon

<p><meta name="uuid" content="uuid3wdoxHngkmwI" /></p>

<p>Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk and several others, who were detained at the Delhi border while marching to the capital to demand Sixth Schedule status for Ladakh, on Tuesday (Oct 1), launched an indefinite fast at the police stations where they have been kept.</p>

<p>Wangchuk was leading the march, 'Delhi Chalo Padyatra', which began from Leh a month ago. He and around 120 others from Ladakh were detained on Monday night.</p>

<p>The march was organised by the Leh Apex Body (LAB), which along with the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA), has been spearheading an agitation for the past four years to demand statehood for Ladakh, seek its inclusion under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution, early recruitment process along with a public service commission for Ladakh and separate Lok Sabha seats for Leh and Kargil districts.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/why-is-sonam-wangchuk-on-a-hunger-strike-in-ladakh-what-are-his-demands-702624"><strong>Watch |&nbsp;Why is Sonam Wangchuk on a hunger strike in Ladakh? What are his demands?</strong></a></p>

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<p>Wangchuk and those accompanying him were detained at the Delhi border for violating prohibitory orders and were taken to different police stations, including Bawana, Narela Industrial Area and Alipur, according to a police officer.</p>

<p>"We tried to convince them to go back as Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) (which prohibits assembly of five or more people) is imposed in the national capital, but they were adamant," the officer said. They remain under detention, he said.</p>

<p>A representative of the group claimed that Wangchuk was taken to Bawana police station and was not being allowed to meet his lawyers.</p>

<p>The activist and others have launched an indefinite fast at the police stations where they have been kept, the representative said.</p>

<p>Wangchuk and the other members of the group had sought official permission and even emailed Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah but that information was used to detain the protesters, the representative claimed.</p>

<p>Ladakh MP Mohmad Haneefa told&nbsp;<em>PTI</em>&nbsp;that around 30 women were among those detained and they were kept with the male detainees.</p>

<p>"Around 30 women were also detained.&nbsp;They were kept in a place where male detainees were also there," Haneefa said.</p>

<p>However, Delhi Police had said on Monday night that women protesters were not detained.</p>

<p>"Several people from Ladakh have been detained. They have been kept at different police stations. I met some of them late last night and early today," Haneefa said.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/exclusive-sonam-wangchuk-inspiration-for-3-idiots-calls-for-climate-fast-on-jan-26-555825"><strong>Also read |&nbsp;Exclusive: Sonam Wangchuk, inspiration for '3 Idiots', to sit on five-day 'climate fast'</strong></a></p>

<p>He said around 60-70 people from Kargil who had come to join the march at the Singhu border on Tuesday morning were also stopped by Delhi Police.<br />
<br />
<em>Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.</em></p>


Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk and several others, who were detained at the Delhi border while marching to the capital to demand Sixth Schedule status for Ladakh, on Tuesday (Oct 1), launched an indefinite fast at the police stations where they have been kept.

Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk and several others, who were detained at the Delhi border while marching to the capital to demand Sixth Schedule status for Ladakh, on Tuesday (Oct 1), launched an indefinite fast at the police stations where they have been kept. Wangchuk was leading the march, 'Delhi Chalo Padyatra', which began from Leh a month ago. He and around 120 others from Ladakh were detained on Monday night. The march was organised by the Leh Apex Body (LAB), which along with the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA), has been spearheading an agitation for the past four years to demand statehood for Ladakh, seek its inclusion under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution, early recruitment process along with a public service commission for Ladakh and separate Lok Sabha seats for Leh and Kargil districts. Watch | Why is Sonam Wangchuk on a hunger strike in Ladakh? What are his demands? × Wangchuk and those accompanying him were detained at the Delhi border for violating prohibitory orders and were taken to different police stations, including Bawana, Narela Industrial Area and Alipur, according to a police officer. "We tried to convince them to go back as Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) (which prohibits assembly of five or more people) is imposed in the national capital, but they were adamant," the officer said. They remain under detention, he said. A representative of the group claimed that Wangchuk was taken to Bawana police station and was not being allowed to meet his lawyers. The activist and others have launched an indefinite fast at the police stations where they have been kept, the representative said. Wangchuk and the other members of the group had sought official permission and even emailed Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah but that information was used to detain the protesters, the representative claimed. Ladakh MP Mohmad Haneefa told PTI that around 30 women were among those detained and they were kept with the male detainees. "Around 30 women were also detained. They were kept in a place where male detainees were also there," Haneefa said. However, Delhi Police had said on Monday night that women protesters were not detained. "Several people from Ladakh have been detained. They have been kept at different police stations. I met some of them late last night and early today," Haneefa said. Also read | Exclusive: Sonam Wangchuk, inspiration for '3 Idiots', to sit on five-day 'climate fast' He said around 60-70 people from Kargil who had come to join the march at the Singhu border on Tuesday morning were also stopped by Delhi Police. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

India: Activist Sonam Wangchuk and others detained in Delhi, launch indefinite fast

<p>Activist Sonam Wangchuk has cancelled his planned border march on Sunday (Apr 7) after the Ladakh administration imposed restrictions under Section 144 and enforced internet curbs in the region. Wangchuk had intended to lead a march to the Line of Actual Control (LAC) at the Chungathung border area to demonstrate China's land encroachment since 2020.</p>

<p>Expressing concerns about potential clashes and riots, the activist, who advocates for Ladakh Union Territory's statehood and 6th Schedule status, cited apprehensions about the government's "overreaction."</p>

<p>"There may be attempts to upset this peaceful agitation and then blame it for violence and make it an excuse to disallow the peaceful protests in Ladakh," said Wangchuk.</p>

<p>He said the agitation in Ladakh has created awareness among people across the country, and the government fears that the border march may impact elections and their vote bank. "So they decided to stop me from marching to the border even at the cost of disturbing peace," he said.</p>

<p>Wangchuk called the government's control measures as "madness". "We are concerned about its impact on national security and peace in the region and, therefore, we have decided to withdraw the march," said Wangchuk.</p>

<p>Previously, Wangchuk stated that if the government intervenes to halt the march, it would strongly suggest that the government wants&nbsp;to conceal the extent of land acquisition by China in Ladakh.</p>

<p>"Our objective is already achieved, which was to make the country aware about what's happening in Ladakh and its pastures, what's happened with Indian land on the border," said Wangchuk.</p>

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">LEH IS BEING TURNED INTO A WAR ZONE<br />
with disproportionate force, barricades, smoke grenades.<br />
Attempts to arrest peaceful youth leaders even singers continue. Seems they want to turn a most peaceful movement violent &amp; then brand Ladakhis as anti-nationals.<br />
Govt seems worried… <a href="https://t.co/851iI8ZWHY">pic.twitter.com/851iI8ZWHY</a></p>
— Sonam Wangchuk (@Wangchuk66) <a href="https://twitter.com/Wangchuk66/status/1776500577503203413?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 6, 2024</a></blockquote>
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<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://wionews.com/india-news/watch-ladakh-shepherds-stand-firm-against-chinese-troops-social-media-applauds-their-bravery-685514">WATCH | Ladakh shepherds stand firm against Chinese troops, draw applause from Indian netizens</a></strong></p>

<p>Section 144 was enforced in Leh following Wangchuk's declaration of the 'Pashmina march' on April 7 along the Line of Actual Control (LAC). Section 144 forbids the assembly of more than four individuals in a public location. Wangchuk criticised the decision, claiming that the protests had been nonviolent and did not require such harsh measures.</p>

<p>District Magistrate Santosh Sukhadeve defended the imposition of Section 144, citing that there were reliable indications of apprehension of breach of peace and public tranquillity in the district.<br />
<br />
“Whereas, it is desirable that any breach of peace, disturbance to public tranquillity or danger to human life be immediately prevented. Therefore, 1, Santosh Sukhadeve, IAS, District Magistrate, Leh satisfied with the report of Sr. Superintendent of Police, Leh and in the exercise of powers vested in me under Section 144 of CrPC, 1973.”</p>

<p>Sonam Wangchuk just completed a 21-day fast, relying exclusively on salt and water. He was fasting&nbsp;for Ladakh to be awarded statehood and being listed in the Sixth Schedule.<br />
<br />
<em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Activist Sonam Wangchuk has cancelled his planned border march on Sunday (Apr 7) after the Ladakh administration imposed restrictions under Section 144 and enforced internet curbs in the region.

Activist Sonam Wangchuk has cancelled his planned border march on Sunday (Apr 7) after the Ladakh administration imposed restrictions under Section 144 and enforced internet curbs in the region. Wangchuk had intended to lead a march to the Line of Actual Control (LAC) at the Chungathung border area to demonstrate China's land encroachment since 2020. Expressing concerns about potential clashes and riots, the activist, who advocates for Ladakh Union Territory's statehood and 6th Schedule status, cited apprehensions about the government's "overreaction." "There may be attempts to upset this peaceful agitation and then blame it for violence and make it an excuse to disallow the peaceful protests in Ladakh," said Wangchuk. He said the agitation in Ladakh has created awareness among people across the country, and the government fears that the border march may impact elections and their vote bank. "So they decided to stop me from marching to the border even at the cost of disturbing peace," he said. Wangchuk called the government's control measures as "madness". "We are concerned about its impact on national security and peace in the region and, therefore, we have decided to withdraw the march," said Wangchuk. Previously, Wangchuk stated that if the government intervenes to halt the march, it would strongly suggest that the government wants to conceal the extent of land acquisition by China in Ladakh. "Our objective is already achieved, which was to make the country aware about what's happening in Ladakh and its pastures, what's happened with Indian land on the border," said Wangchuk. LEH IS BEING TURNED INTO A WAR ZONE with disproportionate force, barricades, smoke grenades. Attempts to arrest peaceful youth leaders even singers continue. Seems they want to turn a most peaceful movement violent & then brand Ladakhis as anti-nationals. Govt seems worried… pic.twitter.com/851iI8ZWHY — Sonam Wangchuk (@Wangchuk66) April 6, 2024 × Also read: WATCH | Ladakh shepherds stand firm against Chinese troops, draw applause from Indian netizens Section 144 was enforced in Leh following Wangchuk's declaration of the 'Pashmina march' on April 7 along the Line of Actual Control (LAC). Section 144 forbids the assembly of more than four individuals in a public location. Wangchuk criticised the decision, claiming that the protests had been nonviolent and did not require such harsh measures. District Magistrate Santosh Sukhadeve defended the imposition of Section 144, citing that there were reliable indications of apprehension of breach of peace and public tranquillity in the district. “Whereas, it is desirable that any breach of peace, disturbance to public tranquillity or danger to human life be immediately prevented. Therefore, 1, Santosh Sukhadeve, IAS, District Magistrate, Leh satisfied with the report of Sr. Superintendent of Police, Leh and in the exercise of powers vested in me under Section 144 of CrPC, 1973.” Sonam Wangchuk just completed a 21-day fast, relying exclusively on salt and water. He was fasting for Ladakh to be awarded statehood and being listed in the Sixth Schedule. (With inputs from agencies)

Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk cancels march to LAC, citing govt ‘suppression’ and ‘overreaction’

<p>Sonam Wangchuk, known for his activism in climate issues and innovation, ended his 21-day hunger strike in Ladakh on Tuesday. Wangchuk had been fasting in Leh, Ladakh, demanding statehood for the region and its inclusion in the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution.</p>

<p>"The first phase of the hunger strike is ending today but this is not the end of the agitation,” Wangchuk was quoted as saying by news agency&nbsp;PTI&nbsp;after taking a glass of juice from a minor girl here amid a massive turnout of people at the protest venue.</p>

<p>Wangchuk, a proponent of educational reforms, remarked that ceasing the hunger strike signifies the commencement of a fresh stage in the ongoing protest.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-is-offering-specialised-training-to-philippines-coast-guard-personnel-eam-dr-jaishankar-704572">Also read |&nbsp;India is offering specialised training to Philippines Coast Guard personnel: EAM Dr. Jaishankar</a></p>

<p>"We will continue our struggle (in support of our demands). The gathering of 10,000 people at the venue and participation of over 60,000 others over the past 20 days are a testimony of the people's aspirations," he said.</p>

<p>Earlier in the day, Wangchuk posted a video on X platform, restating his appeal to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah to safeguard the Himalayas and to implement the Sixth Schedule in Ladakh, aiming to protect the indigenous tribes.</p>

<p>He said in a post on X, "350 people slept in - 10°C. 5000 people in the day here. But still not a word from the government. We need statesmen of integrity, farsightedness &amp; wisdom in this country &amp; not just shortsighted characterless politicians. And I very much hope that @narendramodi ji &amp; @AmitShah ji will soon prove that they are statesmen..."</p>

<p><strong>Also watch |&nbsp;India Elections: First time voter talks about Lok Sabha polls 2024</strong></p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/india-elections-first-time-voter-talks-about-lok-sabha-polls-2024-704520/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<p>Furthermore, he urged people to use their voting rights in the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections "with utmost care" for the benefit of the nation.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>


Sonam Wangchuk, known for his activism in climate issues and innovation, ended his 21-day hunger strike in Ladakh on Tuesday. Wangchuk had been fasting in Leh, Ladakh, demanding statehood for the region and its inclusion in the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution.

Sonam Wangchuk, known for his activism in climate issues and innovation, ended his 21-day hunger strike in Ladakh on Tuesday. Wangchuk had been fasting in Leh, Ladakh, demanding statehood for the region and its inclusion in the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution. "The first phase of the hunger strike is ending today but this is not the end of the agitation,” Wangchuk was quoted as saying by news agency PTI after taking a glass of juice from a minor girl here amid a massive turnout of people at the protest venue. Wangchuk, a proponent of educational reforms, remarked that ceasing the hunger strike signifies the commencement of a fresh stage in the ongoing protest. Also read | India is offering specialised training to Philippines Coast Guard personnel: EAM Dr. Jaishankar "We will continue our struggle (in support of our demands). The gathering of 10,000 people at the venue and participation of over 60,000 others over the past 20 days are a testimony of the people's aspirations," he said. Earlier in the day, Wangchuk posted a video on X platform, restating his appeal to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah to safeguard the Himalayas and to implement the Sixth Schedule in Ladakh, aiming to protect the indigenous tribes. He said in a post on X, "350 people slept in - 10°C. 5000 people in the day here. But still not a word from the government. We need statesmen of integrity, farsightedness & wisdom in this country & not just shortsighted characterless politicians. And I very much hope that @narendramodi ji & @AmitShah ji will soon prove that they are statesmen..." Also watch | India Elections: First time voter talks about Lok Sabha polls 2024 Furthermore, he urged people to use their voting rights in the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections "with utmost care" for the benefit of the nation. (With inputs from agencies)

India: Climate activist, innovator Sonam Wangchuk ends 21-day hunger strike in Leh

Protests are rocking India's Ladakh region. Climate Activist Sonam Wangchuk is at forefront. Wangchuk is on a ‘fast unto death’ protest. What are his demands? Watch this video to find out.

Why is Sonam Wangchuk on a hunger strike in Ladakh? What are his demands?

<p>Ladakh, the cold desert of India, hidden in the lap of the Himalayas, has once again become a heated topic of discussion among environmentalists, climate enthusiasts and citizens after activist, innovator and engineer Sonam Wangchuk announced that he will be sitting on a five-day climate fast at the Khardung La Pass&nbsp;from January 26&nbsp;to appeal the government to provide safeguard to the eco-fragile region.</p>

<p>The scientist-activist who inspired the Bollywood movie 3 idiots' fictional character Phunsukh Wangdu narrated to the world the dire environmental concerns Ladakh is facing and called on the government to fulfil the&nbsp;promise of including the Union territory in the Constitution's Sixth Schedule.</p>

<p>The Sixth Schedule that falls under Article 244 gives the provision for the formation of Autonomous District Councils (ADCs), which enjoy some administrative, judicial and legislative autonomy in the state. Almost 30 members constitute these ADCs and serve a tenure of five years during which they are free to make rules, laws and regulations regarding agriculture, water, forest, health, sanitation, land, village councils, social customs, marriage and divorce, inheritance, town- and village-level policing, mining, etc.</p>

<p>Wangchuk shared a video, "All is not well in Ladakh. Ladakh ki mann ki baat," in which he said that he will camp at Khardung La Pass, which is 18,000 feet above sea level and where the temperature is&nbsp;minus 40°Celsius.</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">ALL IS NOT WELL in Ladakh!<br />
In my latest video I appeal to <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@narendramodi</a> ji to intervene &amp; give safeguards to eco-fragile Ladakh.<br />
To draw attention of Govt &amp; the world I plan to sit on a 5 day <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ClimateFast?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ClimateFast</a> from 26 Jan at Khardungla pass at 18000ft -40 °C<a href="https://t.co/ECi3YlB9kU">https://t.co/ECi3YlB9kU</a></p>
— Sonam Wangchuk (@Wangchuk66) <a href="https://twitter.com/Wangchuk66/status/1616767595759431680?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 21, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
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<p>Speaking to WION about the climate fast, Wangchuk said, "The first reason why I am sitting on the five-day climate fast is to appeal for Ladakh's inclusion in the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution, and the second reason is that our glaciers and environment cannot be only protected by the government alone and so I appeal the people of India, and in fact the world, to join me and take the pledge to change their lifestyle because the emissions which we are causing is melting the Himalayan glaciers at a rapid speed and we face the fear of very little being left by the end of the century."</p>

<p>"I am appealing to the people of India, especially youth, to join me on January 26 in keeping one-day fast in solidarity with the Himalayas and the glaciers and I want one million people to pledge on that day to change their lifestyles while I sit for five days at 18,000 feet," he told WION, hoping to bring the world's attention to Ladakh and its fragile ecology.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/joshimath-sinking-why-is-this-uttarakhand-town-falling-apart-550043">Joshimath sinking: Why is this town in India's Uttarakhand falling apart?</a></p>

<p><strong>Ladakh and its need for inclusion in Constitution's Sixth Schedule&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p>In the 13-minute video shared by Wangchuk, the scientist had emphasised the need to save glaciers from industrial exploitation and in doing so, had reiterated the demands of locals living in Ladakh to include the Union territory in the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution to safeguard its ecosystem and environment and appealed Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to intervene in the issue.</p>

<p>He had underlined the fact that over 95 per cent of the population in Ladakh is tribal, which makes it eligible for inclusion in the sixth schedule. In the video, he states how the locals had presumed that Ladakh would be included in the Sixth Schedule after Article 370 was abrogated by the Indian government in 2019 and the government promised to ensure that the demand for the Sixth Schedule will be fulfilled.</p>

<p>"I am only appealing to the government to keep their promise. They must have seen all the hurdles when they announced that Ladakh will be considered under the Sixth Schedule. Law ministry, home ministry, and tribal ministry, all had proposed that Ladakh should get some similar safeguards, so I am sure they must have seen those. Ladakh becoming a Union territory is a recent development so I am sure as things change, amendments can be made and that's the beauty of democracy."</p>

<p><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;WION Climate Tracker: Avalanche warning across 12 districts of Jammu and Kashmir</strong></p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/wion-climate-tracker-avalanche-warning-across-12-districts-of-jammu-and-kashmir-555263/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<p><strong>January 26 – climate fast or a celebration of the Constitution?&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p>When Wangchuk was quizzed about choosing January 26, when the country celebrates Republic Day, to start the climate fast, he said, "Choosing January 26 was a conscious decision. I find our Constitution very evolved and feel that it does not only tolerate diversity but it promotes and protects diversity. Since the Sixth Schedule is aimed at protecting that diversity, so, I thought of celebrating the Constitution by reminding the leadership and the people of the risk at which these fragile regions, their culture and people stand presently."</p>

<p><strong>Power of sun at minus 40° Celsius</strong></p>

<p>Wangchuk said that sitting at a climate fast in Khardungla pass at minus 40° Celsius may appear difficult, but there are mountaineers out in the world who have faced much worse conditions and sustained themselves.</p>

<p>He joked that he will be just sitting there a "little hungry" and added that he does not aim to present the climate fast as just an emphasis on the climatic crisis the world is facing but wishes to demonstrate to the world the solutions to live in sync with nature.</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">A TEST RUN<br />
for my <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ClimateFast?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ClimateFast</a> at <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Khardungla?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Khardungla</a> 18,000 ft minus 40 °C starting 26th January...<br />
But the test is on my rooftop at <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HIAL?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#HIAL</a> Phyang at 11,500 ft<br />
Will update about the -20 experience in the morning<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SaveLadakh?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SaveLadakh</a><a href="https://twitter.com/ClimateReality?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ClimateReality</a><a href="https://twitter.com/UNFCCC?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@UNFCCC</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/UNDP_India?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@UNDP_India</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ilivesimply?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ilivesimply</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@narendramodi</a> <a href="https://t.co/VBIp7wRhoR">pic.twitter.com/VBIp7wRhoR</a></p>
— Sonam Wangchuk (@Wangchuk66) <a href="https://twitter.com/Wangchuk66/status/1617223218804453376?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 22, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>"So, I will be showing how the sun can be a beautiful source of energy. All my boiled water will come from the solar water heater, my electricity will come from a high-altitude solar power unit and I am even making a solar bed which will absorb the sun during the day and give me some comfort at night. I will show that even at minus 40° Celsius and 18,000 feet you can survive using the power of the sun and people can of course do better at home and with good conditions in the city if I can do at minus 40° Celsius," Wangchuk said.</p>

<p><strong>'Need wisdom to foresee 50 years to save climate'</strong></p>

<p>The scientist explained that the vision to foresee the future in the next 50 years is what is needed to save the environment. He said that democracy teaches people to remain short-sighted and plan for the next five years.</p>

<p>"We do things that may benefit us in five years, without realising that it may become a reason for regret in 50 years. So, democracy teaches us to be clever but not wise. What you need is wisdom for decades rather than cleverness for five years and that's why I think people like me need to raise our voices to remind people and the governments that don't do just quick fixes in five years, think of five decades or more."</p>

<p>"We need wisdom more than cleverness," Wangchuk said as he prepared to give the world the message to save nature and biodiversity for a better and hopeful future for generations to come.<br />
<br />
&nbsp;</p>

<p>You can&nbsp;<strong>now write for wionews.com</strong>&nbsp;and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us&nbsp;<strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.</strong></p>

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Ladakh, the cold desert of India, hidden in the lap of the Himalayas, has once again become a heated topic of discussion among environmentalists, climate enthusiasts and citizens after activist, innovator and engineer Sonam Wangchuk announced that he will be sitting on a five-day climate fast at the Khardung La Pass from January 26 to appeal the government to provide safeguard to the eco-fragile region.

Ladakh, the cold desert of India, hidden in the lap of the Himalayas, has once again become a heated topic of discussion among environmentalists, climate enthusiasts and citizens after activist, innovator and engineer Sonam Wangchuk announced that he will be sitting on a five-day climate fast at the Khardung La Pass from January 26 to appeal the government to provide safeguard to the eco-fragile region. The scientist-activist who inspired the Bollywood movie 3 idiots' fictional character Phunsukh Wangdu narrated to the world the dire environmental concerns Ladakh is facing and called on the government to fulfil the promise of including the Union territory in the Constitution's Sixth Schedule. The Sixth Schedule that falls under Article 244 gives the provision for the formation of Autonomous District Councils (ADCs), which enjoy some administrative, judicial and legislative autonomy in the state. Almost 30 members constitute these ADCs and serve a tenure of five years during which they are free to make rules, laws and regulations regarding agriculture, water, forest, health, sanitation, land, village councils, social customs, marriage and divorce, inheritance, town- and village-level policing, mining, etc. Wangchuk shared a video, "All is not well in Ladakh. Ladakh ki mann ki baat," in which he said that he will camp at Khardung La Pass, which is 18,000 feet above sea level and where the temperature is minus 40°Celsius. ALL IS NOT WELL in Ladakh! In my latest video I appeal to @narendramodi ji to intervene & give safeguards to eco-fragile Ladakh. To draw attention of Govt & the world I plan to sit on a 5 day #ClimateFast from 26 Jan at Khardungla pass at 18000ft -40 °Chttps://t.co/ECi3YlB9kU — Sonam Wangchuk (@Wangchuk66) January 21, 2023 × Speaking to WION about the climate fast, Wangchuk said, "The first reason why I am sitting on the five-day climate fast is to appeal for Ladakh's inclusion in the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution, and the second reason is that our glaciers and environment cannot be only protected by the government alone and so I appeal the people of India, and in fact the world, to join me and take the pledge to change their lifestyle because the emissions which we are causing is melting the Himalayan glaciers at a rapid speed and we face the fear of very little being left by the end of the century." "I am appealing to the people of India, especially youth, to join me on January 26 in keeping one-day fast in solidarity with the Himalayas and the glaciers and I want one million people to pledge on that day to change their lifestyles while I sit for five days at 18,000 feet," he told WION, hoping to bring the world's attention to Ladakh and its fragile ecology. ALSO READ | Joshimath sinking: Why is this town in India's Uttarakhand falling apart? Ladakh and its need for inclusion in Constitution's Sixth Schedule In the 13-minute video shared by Wangchuk, the scientist had emphasised the need to save glaciers from industrial exploitation and in doing so, had reiterated the demands of locals living in Ladakh to include the Union territory in the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution to safeguard its ecosystem and environment and appealed Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to intervene in the issue. He had underlined the fact that over 95 per cent of the population in Ladakh is tribal, which makes it eligible for inclusion in the sixth schedule. In the video, he states how the locals had presumed that Ladakh would be included in the Sixth Schedule after Article 370 was abrogated by the Indian government in 2019 and the government promised to ensure that the demand for the Sixth Schedule will be fulfilled. "I am only appealing to the government to keep their promise. They must have seen all the hurdles when they announced that Ladakh will be considered under the Sixth Schedule. Law ministry, home ministry, and tribal ministry, all had proposed that Ladakh should get some similar safeguards, so I am sure they must have seen those. Ladakh becoming a Union territory is a recent development so I am sure as things change, amendments can be made and that's the beauty of democracy." WATCH | WION Climate Tracker: Avalanche warning across 12 districts of Jammu and Kashmir January 26 – climate fast or a celebration of the Constitution? When Wangchuk was quizzed about choosing January 26, when the country celebrates Republic Day, to start the climate fast, he said, "Choosing January 26 was a conscious decision. I find our Constitution very evolved and feel that it does not only tolerate diversity but it promotes and protects diversity. Since the Sixth Schedule is aimed at protecting that diversity, so, I thought of celebrating the Constitution by reminding the leadership and the people of the risk at which these fragile regions, their culture and people stand presently." Power of sun at minus 40° Celsius Wangchuk said that sitting at a climate fast in Khardungla pass at minus 40° Celsius may appear difficult, but there are mountaineers out in the world who have faced much worse conditions and sustained themselves. He joked that he will be just sitting there a "little hungry" and added that he does not aim to present the climate fast as just an emphasis on the climatic crisis the world is facing but wishes to demonstrate to the world the solutions to live in sync with nature. A TEST RUN for my #ClimateFast at #Khardungla 18,000 ft minus 40 °C starting 26th January... But the test is on my rooftop at #HIAL Phyang at 11,500 ft Will update about the -20 experience in the morning#SaveLadakh@ClimateReality@UNFCCC @UNDP_India #ilivesimply @narendramodi pic.twitter.com/VBIp7wRhoR — Sonam Wangchuk (@Wangchuk66) January 22, 2023 × "So, I will be showing how the sun can be a beautiful source of energy. All my boiled water will come from the solar water heater, my electricity will come from a high-altitude solar power unit and I am even making a solar bed which will absorb the sun during the day and give me some comfort at night. I will show that even at minus 40° Celsius and 18,000 feet you can survive using the power of the sun and people can of course do better at home and with good conditions in the city if I can do at minus 40° Celsius," Wangchuk said. 'Need wisdom to foresee 50 years to save climate' The scientist explained that the vision to foresee the future in the next 50 years is what is needed to save the environment. He said that democracy teaches people to remain short-sighted and plan for the next five years. "We do things that may benefit us in five years, without realising that it may become a reason for regret in 50 years. So, democracy teaches us to be clever but not wise. What you need is wisdom for decades rather than cleverness for five years and that's why I think people like me need to raise our voices to remind people and the governments that don't do just quick fixes in five years, think of five decades or more." "We need wisdom more than cleverness," Wangchuk said as he prepared to give the world the message to save nature and biodiversity for a better and hopeful future for generations to come. You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Exclusive: Sonam Wangchuk, inspiration for '3 Idiots', to sit on five-day 'climate fast' from Jan 26

<p>I recall my Siachen Glacier stint in the year 2003. Largely nothing much has changed ever since when you see things from a distance. But a lot has gone into when you see things up close. One such major challenge of all times was that of the drinking water. We use to melt the snow and use the water for cooking and drinking purposes. It tasted flat and tasteless. More so regular use of this water killed the appetite big time.</p>

<p>On this issue, things have begun to change. All credit goes to the master innovator, Mr Sonam Wangchuk from Leh. This water storage and supply concept appealed to the Brigade Commander of &nbspSiachen Brigade, Brigadier Bhupesh Hada, Shaurya Chakra, so much that he set his team to task. They studied this concept and adapted it to the usage of troops on the glacier.</p>

<p>Today this concept of water storage or rather the Artificial Glacier Water Supply Scheme (AGWSS) has been put into practice at the highest battlefield on the earth at 18,000-22,000 feet.</p>

<p>&nbspWhat exactly is this AGWSS? Let me try and explain.</p>

<p>AWSS basically is developed around the concept of freezing and holding the water that otherwise keeps flowing and wasting away down the subsurface glacial streams throughout the winters.</p>

<p>It comes very handily during the summertime when soft snow has melted away baring the rock hard glacial blue ice. Water becomes a huge challenge especially during the months of May, June and July. The troops go on foot long distances to search for soft snow in shadow areas. They lug it on their backs to melt this collected snow into the water for their daily routine usage. Mind you the height of these operations being above 18,000 feet, oxygen is very low thus making a simple walk of even a kilometre look like a full marathon.</p>

<p>With this AGWSS constructed at such forward posts which are denuded of their water source when the complete soft snow has melted during late summer, a major boon.</p>

<p>AGWSS are developed by freezing stream water vertically in the form of ice towers or cones of 30 to 50 metres (100-165 feet) high and can store a tremendous amount of water. An artificial glacier is formed by piping mountain stream water into a vertical pipe. The stream water is collected from a source at a higher altitude than the storage making the site gravity fed. Because of the simple law of nature that the water always maintains its level, it soon reaches the same height as the source.</p>

<p>Following this simple rule, the stream run-off is pushed all the way to the bottom of the pipe and forces out of the top. The water sprouts geyser-like from the pipe, freezing into a cone of ice shaped like a Stupa. Because of the temperatures as low as minus 40-50 degrees, the water almost instantly freezes as soon as it exits the pipe. Its geometrical shape makes the ice melt slower by exposing the lesser surface area to direct sunlight.</p>

<p>This innovation of Sonam Wangchuk and adaptation by Bhupesh Hada’s team has now resulted in saving many a man hours in collecting the soft snow and melting to convert into potable water. Now the time saved will get dedicated towards operational tasks more meaningfully.</p>

<p>I wish we had such an innovation to our service, the food would have tasted much better, life would have been a little better.&nbsp</p>

<p>This simple and great innovation should not stop here but extend all the way to our scientific station at Antarctica. &nbspAnd also to other places in our Himalayan region for usage by troops and civilian villages.&nbsp</p>

<p>&nbsp</p>

<p><em>(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)</em></p>


Artificial Glacier Water Supply Scheme has now resulted in saving many a man hours in collecting the soft snow and melting to convert into potable water. This simple and great innovation should not stop here but extend in our Himalayan region for usage by troops and civilian villages

I recall my Siachen Glacier stint in the year 2003. Largely nothing much has changed ever since when you see things from a distance. But a lot has gone into when you see things up close. One such major challenge of all times was that of the drinking water. We use to melt the snow and use the water for cooking and drinking purposes. It tasted flat and tasteless. More so regular use of this water killed the appetite big time. On this issue, things have begun to change. All credit goes to the master innovator, Mr Sonam Wangchuk from Leh. This water storage and supply concept appealed to the Brigade Commander of &nbspSiachen Brigade, Brigadier Bhupesh Hada, Shaurya Chakra, so much that he set his team to task. They studied this concept and adapted it to the usage of troops on the glacier. Today this concept of water storage or rather the Artificial Glacier Water Supply Scheme (AGWSS) has been put into practice at the highest battlefield on the earth at 18,000-22,000 feet. &nbspWhat exactly is this AGWSS? Let me try and explain. AWSS basically is developed around the concept of freezing and holding the water that otherwise keeps flowing and wasting away down the subsurface glacial streams throughout the winters. It comes very handily during the summertime when soft snow has melted away baring the rock hard glacial blue ice. Water becomes a huge challenge especially during the months of May, June and July. The troops go on foot long distances to search for soft snow in shadow areas. They lug it on their backs to melt this collected snow into the water for their daily routine usage. Mind you the height of these operations being above 18,000 feet, oxygen is very low thus making a simple walk of even a kilometre look like a full marathon. With this AGWSS constructed at such forward posts which are denuded of their water source when the complete soft snow has melted during late summer, a major boon. AGWSS are developed by freezing stream water vertically in the form of ice towers or cones of 30 to 50 metres (100-165 feet) high and can store a tremendous amount of water. An artificial glacier is formed by piping mountain stream water into a vertical pipe. The stream water is collected from a source at a higher altitude than the storage making the site gravity fed. Because of the simple law of nature that the water always maintains its level, it soon reaches the same height as the source. Following this simple rule, the stream run-off is pushed all the way to the bottom of the pipe and forces out of the top. The water sprouts geyser-like from the pipe, freezing into a cone of ice shaped like a Stupa. Because of the temperatures as low as minus 40-50 degrees, the water almost instantly freezes as soon as it exits the pipe. Its geometrical shape makes the ice melt slower by exposing the lesser surface area to direct sunlight. This innovation of Sonam Wangchuk and adaptation by Bhupesh Hada’s team has now resulted in saving many a man hours in collecting the soft snow and melting to convert into potable water. Now the time saved will get dedicated towards operational tasks more meaningfully. I wish we had such an innovation to our service, the food would have tasted much better, life would have been a little better. This simple and great innovation should not stop here but extend all the way to our scientific station at Antarctica. &nbspAnd also to other places in our Himalayan region for usage by troops and civilian villages. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Opinion: Troops are thankful, wish for innovations like AGWSS by Sonam Wangchuk

<p>I recall my Siachen Glacier stint in the year 2003. Largely nothing much has changed ever since when you see things from a distance. But a lot has gone into when you see things up close. One such major challenge of all times was that of the drinking water. We use to melt the snow and use the water for cooking and drinking purposes. It tasted flat and tasteless. More so regular use of this water killed the appetite big time.</p>

<p>On this issue, things have begun to change. All credit goes to the master innovator, Mr Sonam Wangchuk from Leh. This water storage and supply concept appealed to the Brigade Commander of &nbsp;Siachen Brigade, Brigadier Bhupesh Hada, Shaurya Chakra, so much that he set his team to task. They studied this concept and adapted it to the usage of troops on the glacier.</p>

<p>Today this concept of water storage or rather the Artificial Glacier Water Supply Scheme (AGWSS) has been put into practice at the highest battlefield on the earth at 18,000-22,000 feet.</p>

<p>&nbsp;What exactly is this AGWSS? Let me try and explain.</p>

<p>AWSS basically is developed around the concept of freezing and holding the water that otherwise keeps flowing and wasting away down the subsurface glacial streams throughout the winters.</p>

<p>It comes very handily during the summertime when soft snow has melted away baring the rock hard glacial blue ice. Water becomes a huge challenge especially during the months of May, June and July. The troops go on foot long distances to search for soft snow in shadow areas. They lug it on their backs to melt this collected snow into the water for their daily routine usage. Mind you the height of these operations being above 18,000 feet, oxygen is very low thus making a simple walk of even a kilometre look like a full marathon.</p>

<p>With this AGWSS constructed at such forward posts which are denuded of their water source when the complete soft snow has melted during late summer, a major boon.</p>

<p>AGWSS are developed by freezing stream water vertically in the form of ice towers or cones of 30 to 50 metres (100-165 feet) high and can store a tremendous amount of water. An artificial glacier is formed by piping mountain stream water into a vertical pipe. The stream water is collected from a source at a higher altitude than the storage making the site gravity fed. Because of the simple law of nature that the water always maintains its level, it soon reaches the same height as the source.</p>

<p>Following this simple rule, the stream run-off is pushed all the way to the bottom of the pipe and forces out of the top. The water sprouts geyser-like from the pipe, freezing into a cone of ice shaped like a Stupa. Because of the temperatures as low as minus 40-50 degrees, the water almost instantly freezes as soon as it exits the pipe. Its geometrical shape makes the ice melt slower by exposing the lesser surface area to direct sunlight.</p>

<p>This innovation of Sonam Wangchuk and adaptation by Bhupesh Hada&rsquo;s team has now resulted in saving many a man hours in collecting the soft snow and melting to convert into potable water. Now the time saved will get dedicated towards operational tasks more meaningfully.</p>

<p>I wish we had such an innovation to our service, the food would have tasted much better, life would have been a little better.&nbsp;</p>

<p>This simple and great innovation should not stop here but extend all the way to our scientific station at Antarctica. &nbsp;And also to other places in our Himalayan region for usage by troops and civilian villages.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)</em></p>


Artificial Glacier Water Supply Scheme has now resulted in saving many a man hours in collecting the soft snow and melting to convert into potable water. This simple and great innovation should not stop here but extend in our Himalayan region for usage by troops and civilian villages.

I recall my Siachen Glacier stint in the year 2003. Largely nothing much has changed ever since when you see things from a distance. But a lot has gone into when you see things up close. One such major challenge of all times was that of the drinking water. We use to melt the snow and use the water for cooking and drinking purposes. It tasted flat and tasteless. More so regular use of this water killed the appetite big time. On this issue, things have begun to change. All credit goes to the master innovator, Mr Sonam Wangchuk from Leh. This water storage and supply concept appealed to the Brigade Commander of Siachen Brigade, Brigadier Bhupesh Hada, Shaurya Chakra, so much that he set his team to task. They studied this concept and adapted it to the usage of troops on the glacier. Today this concept of water storage or rather the Artificial Glacier Water Supply Scheme (AGWSS) has been put into practice at the highest battlefield on the earth at 18,000-22,000 feet. What exactly is this AGWSS? Let me try and explain. AWSS basically is developed around the concept of freezing and holding the water that otherwise keeps flowing and wasting away down the subsurface glacial streams throughout the winters. It comes very handily during the summertime when soft snow has melted away baring the rock hard glacial blue ice. Water becomes a huge challenge especially during the months of May, June and July. The troops go on foot long distances to search for soft snow in shadow areas. They lug it on their backs to melt this collected snow into the water for their daily routine usage. Mind you the height of these operations being above 18,000 feet, oxygen is very low thus making a simple walk of even a kilometre look like a full marathon. With this AGWSS constructed at such forward posts which are denuded of their water source when the complete soft snow has melted during late summer, a major boon. AGWSS are developed by freezing stream water vertically in the form of ice towers or cones of 30 to 50 metres (100-165 feet) high and can store a tremendous amount of water. An artificial glacier is formed by piping mountain stream water into a vertical pipe. The stream water is collected from a source at a higher altitude than the storage making the site gravity fed. Because of the simple law of nature that the water always maintains its level, it soon reaches the same height as the source. Following this simple rule, the stream run-off is pushed all the way to the bottom of the pipe and forces out of the top. The water sprouts geyser-like from the pipe, freezing into a cone of ice shaped like a Stupa. Because of the temperatures as low as minus 40-50 degrees, the water almost instantly freezes as soon as it exits the pipe. Its geometrical shape makes the ice melt slower by exposing the lesser surface area to direct sunlight. This innovation of Sonam Wangchuk and adaptation by Bhupesh Hada’s team has now resulted in saving many a man hours in collecting the soft snow and melting to convert into potable water. Now the time saved will get dedicated towards operational tasks more meaningfully. I wish we had such an innovation to our service, the food would have tasted much better, life would have been a little better. This simple and great innovation should not stop here but extend all the way to our scientific station at Antarctica. And also to other places in our Himalayan region for usage by troops and civilian villages. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

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Opinion: Troops are thankful, wish for innovations like AGWSS by Sonam Wangchuk

Opinion: Troops are thankful, wish for innovations like AGWSS by Sonam Wangchuk