Gun Goes Off During Varanasi Airport Screening, Two Personnel Injured; BCAS Begins Probe

A licensed firearm was accidentally discharged during security screening at Varanasi airport, injuring two screening personnel and prompting a police investigation and a review by the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS).

The incident occurred at around 9:30 am on August 16, when passenger Kamlesh Kedarnath Rai was preparing to travel from Varanasi to Mumbai on Air India Express flight IX 1810. Rai had declared his licensed 7.62 mm pistol and 21 live cartridges at the check-in counter, as required under the prescribed procedure.

He was escorted to the designated screening area for security formalities. During the handling and inspection of the firearm, a round was accidentally discharged. The projectile ricocheted and injured two screening personnel, Rohit Raj and Suman Kumari.

Both injured staff members were provided assistance and shifted to New Lakshmi Trauma Center in Varanasi for medical treatment. Local police were informed and Rai was detained for investigation and further action in accordance with law.

The incident triggered scrutiny of procedures governing the declaration, screening, handling and carriage of licensed weapons at airports. The BCAS is examining the circumstances surrounding the discharge, including whether prescribed procedures were followed by the passenger and personnel involved in the security process.

Such procedures are intended to ensure that licensed firearms are declared, documentation is verified, weapons are safely handled and ammunition is carried under applicable requirements. However, the government has not identified any specific procedural violation or assigned responsibility for the discharge.

Authorities said the incident was promptly contained and airport operations continued without disruption. There has been no indication in the Ministry of Civil Aviation’s statement of a security threat or operational shutdown.

The investigation will determine whether the discharge resulted from an inadvertent handling error, a procedural lapse or another circumstance. Their findings could guide further airport firearm-screening measures overall throughout the airport's firearm screening and handling process.

For now, the immediate response has focused on medical care, police action, security review and maintaining normal flight operations.