Varanasi airport accidental firing injures two, probe ordered
Two people were injured on Sunday after a passenger's licensed pistol accidentally discharged during a security check at Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport in Varanasi. The incident took place around 9:30 a.m. while the passenger, identified as Kamlesh Rai, a resident of Azamgarh district, was travelling with his wife to Mumbai on Air India Express flight IX1810.
According to a statement from the Deputy Commissioner of Police (Gomti Zone), the weapon and its ammunition were being inspected when the accidental firing occurred. A female security personnel was hit on the leg, and another person standing nearby sustained an injury to the thumb. Both were immediately taken to a private hospital for treatment, the statement said.
Senior police officers, including the Deputy Commissioner of Police (Gomti Zone) and the Assistant Commissioner of Police (Pindra), reached the spot soon after the incident. Police said the site is being inspected, and necessary details are being gathered. Appropriate legal action is being taken in the matter, the statement added.
The Varanasi Airport Authority also issued a statement confirming the incident. It said the passenger had declared the weapon on board the flight, and during the weapons check, a round was fired, injuring two screeners from AAICLAS (AAI Cargo Logistics and Allied Services Company Limited). Both were taken to New Laxmi Trauma Centre for treatment, the statement said, adding that local police have been informed and an investigation is underway.
This incident highlights the importance of strict safety protocols during the handling of declared weapons at airports. Airports in India require passengers to declare firearms and undergo specific checks to ensure they are unloaded and stored safely before being handed over to crew or authorities. The accidental discharge raises questions about how such checks are conducted and whether additional safeguards are needed to prevent similar occurrences.
The identity of the injured screeners has not been disclosed, but their conditions are reported to be stable. Authorities have not indicated any criminal intent on the part of the passenger, and the firing is being treated as accidental. The investigation will determine if any procedural lapses occurred.
This is a developing story. Further details are awaited from the police and airport authorities as the inquiry progresses.
