Mumbai, August 11: The Panna district in Madhya Pradesh is once again in the spotlight for its diamonds. Seven workers struck gold when they discovered a high-quality diamond weighing approximately 16.96 carats in a shallow mine near Sarkoha village.
The diamond is estimated to be worth between ₹3 million and ₹5 million. Following this discovery, a wave of joy has swept through the workers and their families.
Leaseholder Akhilesh Pal shared that he was inspecting an old shallow mine near his father’s farm on Monday evening after recent rains when he stumbled upon the diamond. Alongside selling tea, he also engages in farming. In 2024, he and six friends acquired the lease for this mine.
Despite their hard work yielding no results for a long time, Akhilesh continued to try his luck. After finding the diamond, he informed all his partners to ensure the proceeds would be shared equally.
Sources from the district diamond office confirmed that Akhilesh holds a valid lease for the mine since 2024. He spotted the sparkling stone in the soil and, recognizing its value, submitted it to the government diamond office in Panna as per regulations.
The diamond will now be auctioned by the government. Officials indicated that the auction might take place in November, once a sufficient number of diamonds have been collected.
Akhilesh hopes the diamond could fetch up to ₹10 million. However, officials estimate its price will likely range between ₹3 million and ₹5 million.
This discovery has sparked new hope among his partners, many of whom have been facing financial hardships. Some, like Santosh, Sharma, and Arun, have not married yet due to their weak economic conditions, despite being over 30 years old. They now believe that the auction proceeds could significantly change their lives.
The workers plan to use their share of the money to build solid homes instead of temporary structures and to provide better education for their children.
According to regulations, royalties and other fees will be deducted from the auction proceeds, and the remaining amount will be equally distributed among the seven partners.
Panna is renowned for its diamond mines in India. Local residents often lease land from the district diamond office to dig in fields or small shallow mines, occasionally uncovering precious diamonds that can transform their fortunes.
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