Only 6 CISF-Guarded Airports in India Equipped to Defuse Bombs

An audit by a parliamentary agency found that only six of the 59 airports guarded by the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) are equipped to defuse and dispose explosives, reported Hindustan Times.

According to the audit, the bomb detection and disposable squad is operational only in Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Cochin and Hyderabad. While four of these airports are run privately, Chennai and Kolkata airports are run by the Airport Authority of India, the newspaper reported.

The CISF provides security cover to 59 airports out of India’s 98 operational ones.

Speaking to the newspaper, an official with the CISF said:

Even if one equipment is not available, the squad cannot be made functional. We have written to the AAI, BCAS and civil aviation ministry, asking them to provide this crucial equipment at the earliest.

CISF Officer

For an airport to have functional explosive detection and disposal squad, they reportedly require 28 pieces of equipment – including explosive vapour detectors, bomb disposal suits, and remote-operated vehicles. And these equipment, the newspaper reported, is currently in place in only the six above mentioned airports.

Of the airports that are run by private players, Bengaluru’s Kempagowda International Airport – which is run as a private-public partnership – does not have a functional bomb detection and disposal squad. This is reportedly because the airport houses only 24 of the 28 equipment required.

For the sake of safety, you need to have complete set of equipment...if something happens to passengers, Bureau for Civil Aviation Security will be responsible for it since they are the one responsible for aviation security.

Sudhakar Reddy, Air Passengers Association President to Hindustan Times

Speaking to the newspaper, an AAI official reportedly confirmed that explosive vapour detectors will be procured by September 2018 and will be installed in 18 airports.

(With inputs from Hindustan Times)