Finding a diamond worth a fortune is a once-in-a-lifetime event for most people. But for this tribal farming family in Madhya Pradesh’s Panna district, it has happened twice.
After unearthing a 19.22-carat diamond in 2024 that fetched Rs 93 lakh at a government auction, the family has once again struck lucky. This time, they have discovered an 11.19-carat gem-quality diamond estimated to be worth around Rs 30 lakh. The latest discovery was made on Monday from a mine on private land in the Ahirgaon area of Panna district.
Two months of hard work pays off
An official of the government diamond office said labourer Rakesh Adivasi, his three brothers and several relatives obtained a mining lease in the Ahirgaon area in April and started operations there.
“After toiling for two months,
the family found a precious 11.19-carat gem-quality diamond, estimated to be worth around Rs 30 lakh on Monday, from a mine located on private land in the Ahirgaon area. They immediately deposited the diamond with the government diamond office,” the official said.
Panna Diamond Inspector Nutan Jain confirmed that the stone weighs 11.19 carats and is of gem quality.
She said the diamond will be put up for sale in the next government auction. After deducting the applicable royalty, the remaining amount will be deposited into the family’s authorised bank account.
Family continues to try its luck
The latest find has brought fresh joy to the family, which has been working in Panna’s diamond mines for years.
Rakesh’s brother, Raju Adivasi, said the Rs 93 lakh earned from the sale of the 19.22-carat diamond two years ago had significantly improved the family’s financial condition. Despite that, they continued mining instead of giving up.
Rakesh said the money from the upcoming auction would be invested in starting new mining operations, allowing the family to continue searching for diamonds.
Panna district is internationally known for its diamond reserves, where remarkable discoveries occasionally transform the lives of local miners and labourers overnight.
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