Passenger’s pistol fires accidentally at Varanasi airport, two hurt

A licensed firearm discharged accidentally during security checks at Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport in Varanasi on Sunday morning, injuring two AAICLAS screeners. The passenger, identified as Kamlesh Kedarnath Rai, had declared a 7.62 mm pistol and 21 live cartridges at the check-in counter before being escorted to a designated screening area. The Civil Aviation Ministry said a round was fired while the weapon was being inspected and the projectile ricocheted, hitting Rohit Raj and Suman Kumari.

Accounts of whether the gun was loaded differ. Livemint and Times Now report that injured screener Rohit Raj said the passenger removed the magazine, found it loaded, and then pressed the trigger. Suman Kumari told the same outlets that the passenger claimed the weapon was unloaded and fired it while demonstrating. The Economic Times notes that authorities have not released details of the firearm or the severity of injuries. Flight operations remained unaffected.

The Bureau of Civil Aviation Security is investigating whether protocols for handling licensed weapons at airports were followed. The passenger has been detained, and local police have been informed. The ministry said further action will be based on the investigation's findings.