Two security screeners were injured on Sunday morning after a passenger’s licensed gun accidentally went off during a mandatory security check at Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport in Varanasi. The incident happened around 9:30 AM in the terminal building as passengers were clearing procedures for Air India Express flight IX-1810 to Mumbai. Police identified the passenger as Kamlesh Rai from Azamgarh, who was traveling with his wife and had formally declared that he was carrying a licensed firearm in line with standard aviation guidelines.
The misfire took place while staff from AAI Cargo Logistics and Allied Services Company Limited (AAICLAS) were physically inspecting the handgun and checking the ammunition at the baggage counter. During the inspection, a live round suddenly discharged, hitting one screener in the leg and injuring a second screener’s thumb. The sudden loud bang caused brief panic among travelers waiting inside the departure hall, but CISF personnel and airport security stepped in immediately, cordoning off the screening area and calming the situation.
First responders treated both injured staff members on-site before rushing them to the nearby New Laxmi Trauma Centre, where doctors confirmed their conditions were stable. Senior district police officers, including the Deputy Commissioner of Police for Gomti Zone and the Assistant Commissioner of Police for Pindra, arrived shortly after to inspect the scene. A joint inquiry by local police and aviation security officials is underway to piece together what went wrong and figure out whether standard weapon-handling safety protocols were overlooked.