Daijiworld Media Network - Bhopal/Panna

Bhopal/Panna, Jun 29: A daily wage labourer from Madhya Pradesh's diamond-rich Panna district has struck fortune after discovering a rare 11.19-carat white diamond, a find that is expected to fetch up to Rs 40 lakh at a government auction and significantly improve his family's future.

Rakesh Gond unearthed the high-quality gemstone on Sunday while working in his leased diamond mine at Ahirguwa village. The mining pit, measuring 8x8 metres, was taken on lease by him in April this year. Despite months of hard work with simple hand tools, his perseverance finally paid off when he spotted the sparkling stone while sorting through excavated soil.

Realising the significance of the discovery, Rakesh immediately informed his family before depositing the diamond at the Government Diamond Office in Panna for examination and valuation.

Officials from the Diamond Office confirmed that the gemstone is of excellent quality and possesses favourable characteristics that could help it command a price of nearly Rs 40 lakh or even more during the next official auction. After the deduction of government royalty and applicable taxes, the remaining proceeds will be handed over to Rakesh.

The discovery adds another chapter to the Gond family's remarkable association with Panna's diamond mines. Earlier, Rakesh's father and brother had discovered a 19.22-carat diamond in the Krishna Kalyanpur mining area, making the family one of the rare households to have unearthed multiple valuable gemstones.

Coming from a modest tribal family, Rakesh said he recognised the stone as a diamond the moment he found it. He hopes the money earned from its sale will help clear outstanding debts, purchase agricultural land, construct a permanent house and provide better educational opportunities for the younger members of the family.

Panna, often referred to as India's diamond district, has been renowned for its natural diamond reserves for centuries. Every year, local miners lease small plots in the hope of discovering precious stones that can change their fortunes overnight.

The district has witnessed several such discoveries in recent months. On June 18, Mira Singh found a 6.45-carat diamond while working at a leased mine in Jaruapur village. Estimated to be worth over Rs 12 lakh, the gemstone was discovered after months of continuous mining following the lease she acquired in March, highlighting once again how patience and persistence continue to reward Panna's small-scale miners.