Accidental firing near Kashi Vishwanath Temple injures three flower vendors
Three flower vendors were injured after an accidental discharge from a Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) jawan's service carbine near Gate No. 4B of the Kashi Vishwanath Temple in Varanasi on Saturday, triggering panic among devotees and traders in the busy temple area. According to police, the incident occurred when the sling of the jawan's weapon snapped, causing the carbine to fall and fire unexpectedly.
The injured have been identified as Nikhil Gupta, Ram Babu, and Vikas Yadav, all flower vendors who were standing near the temple entrance. One sustained injuries to the hand, another to the waist, while the third suffered injuries to the leg after being struck by bullet fragments and debris.
They were immediately shifted to Mandaliya Hospital for treatment, and officials said all three are in stable condition.
Senior police and administrative officials reached the spot soon after the incident and launched an inquiry to determine how the weapon discharged and whether standard safety protocols were followed. Security personnel quickly secured the area, restoring normalcy at one of the country's busiest pilgrimage sites.
