Chaos erupted at Varanasi Airport on Sunday morning when a licensed pistol accidentally discharged during a security inspection. The incident took place as a passenger was preparing to board Air India Express flight IX-1810 bound for Mumbai. The sudden gunfire inside the security area has raised serious concerns regarding weapon handling protocols and safety standard enforcement at the airport.
Accidental Discharge During Security Screening
The passenger, identified as Kamlesh Kedarnath Rai, arrived at the airport terminal for his scheduled flight. Following mandatory aviation security protocols, Rai declared his weapon at the check-in counter, informing airline staff that he was carrying a licensed 7.62 mm pistol along with 21 live cartridges. Upon declaring the firearm, Rai was escorted to the designated security screening area for further verification, where the weapon unexpectedly fired a round during the inspection process.
Two Security Staff Injured and Passenger Detained
The projectile struck two airport screening staff members on duty, identified as Rohit Raj and Suman Kumari. Both personnel sustained injuries from the firing incident. Airport officials immediately rushed Rohit Raj and Suman Kumari to the New Lakshmi Trauma Center for urgent medical treatment. Local law enforcement was promptly notified of the incident, and police officers took passenger Kamlesh Kedarnath Rai into custody to begin a detailed investigation.
Questions Over Safety Protocols and Unloading Procedures
The incident has triggered a sharp focus on whether established safety guidelines were violated during the weapon handling procedure. Under standard civil aviation security rules, firearms are required to be completely unloaded following declaration to prevent accidental firing. Authorities are now investigating whether the pistol had been left loaded by the passenger or if a procedural lapse occurred while handling the firearm during the screening process.
