Varanasi airport firing: Injured screeners recall tense moments as passenger's pistol went off— ‘It was loaded. Then…'

At Varanasi airport, a passenger's pistol accidentally discharged during a security screening, leaving two cargo screeners injured. Rohit Raj and Suman Kumari, the injured screeners, recounted the incident that occurred around 9:30 am on Sunday. According to Raj, the passenger first removed the magazine and checked the loaded weapon before pressing the trigger, causing the bullet to graze his finger and swell.

Kumari stated that the passenger claimed the weapon was unloaded and, while showing it to them, accidentally pressed the trigger, resulting in the bullet striking her in both legs, including her thigh. Both screeners were hospitalized and are currently out of danger. The incident took place when Kamlesh Kedarnath Rai, a 55-year-old resident of Azamgarh, arrived with his wife to board an Air India Express flight to Mumbai.

Rai had declared his licensed 7.62 mm pistol and 21 live cartridges at the check-in counter before proceeding to the weapons screening area. Airport director Puneet Gupta confirmed that the passenger had declared the weapon before traveling and that the round was accidentally fired during its inspection. The Bureau of Civil Aviation Security is investigating whether the proper procedures were followed for handling and carrying licensed weapons at airports.

The civil aviation ministry stated that the passenger was detained for investigation, and the incident was swiftly controlled, with airport operations continuing without disruption. Police have initiated an investigation into the incident.