The health condition of farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal, who is on a fast-unto-death protest at the Khanauri border, is continuously deteriorating with doctors saying that he is at a high risk of a heart attack. 

Medics monitoring the farmer leader’s condition, whose fast unto death continued for the 28th day on Monday, have warned that he is at risk of cardiac arrest and multiple organ failure. 

Dallewal’s condition is hemodynamically unstable implying the movement of blood is unstable leading to inadequate blood flow. “Usually such patients need to be admitted to the ICU. He is at risk of cardiac arrest and his condition is critical,” the doctors said. 

The Samyukta Kisan Morca (non-political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha released a statement saying Dallewal, 70, did not go on stage on Sunday on doctors’ advice. His immunity has weakened due to a continuous hunger strike due to which he is at risk of infection, the statement read further. 

A doctor examining Dallewal told reporters at the Khanauri border that his hands and feet were “cold. “Starvation is affecting his nervous system and vital organs like liver and kidneys. His blood pressure is also fluctuating, sometimes dropping very fast, which is a matter of concern,” said the doctor, who is part of a team of medics from an NGO named 5 Rivers Heart Association. 

“He is not responding properly,” the doctor said, adding that Dallewal has also tested positive for orthostatic hypotension, a type of low blood pressure that can cause dizziness or lightheadedness and fainting. 

On Friday, the Supreme Court said it was the responsibility of the Punjab government to look after the health of Dallewal. The apex court left it to the Punjab government officials and doctors to decide on his hospitalisation. 

A bench of Justices Surya Kant and Ujjal Bhuyan sought reports from the Punjab chief secretary and health officials on medical conditions of Dallewal by January 2 adding the state government could approach the court, if a need arose.