Panna's Diamond-Rich Land Changes Another Family's Fate
The mineral-rich earth of Madhya Pradesh's Panna district has once again transformed the lives of an ordinary struggling family. Rajkumar Srivas and his wife Goodi Devi, originally residents of Uttar Pradesh's Jhansi district, have struck gold—or rather, diamonds—after months of relentless physical labor. Their inspiring journey from financial distress in another state to discovering precious stones in Panna has captured widespread public attention.
Until a few months ago, the couple was navigating through severe financial hardship with limited income sources in Jhansi. However, viral social media news reports highlighting ordinary people striking it rich in Panna's shallow diamond mines sparked a new hope within the family. Goodi Devi, whose maternal home is in Panna, convinced her husband to take a leap of faith, relocate temporarily, and apply for a legal mining lease.
Six Months of Relentless Toil in Saroha Mines
Mining without heavy machinery is an arduous test of endurance. Setting aside their daily struggles, the couple rented a patch of private land in the Saroha area of Panna after obtaining official permission from the district diamond office. For nearly half a year, they toiled daily under harsh weather conditions, digging soil and filtering gravel in search of precious stones.
"We are extremely happy that our six months of hard work finally paid off. We found four valuable diamonds which have been deposited at the official diamond office. The proceeds from the auction will secure our children's future." — Goodi Devi, Mine Worker
Four Diamonds Totaling 5.16 Carats Uncovered in Two Days
The culmination of their hard work arrived in a dramatic two-day window when consecutive finds amazed both the finders and local officials. According to the diamond valuation experts, the couple recovered four distinct diamonds within 48 hours. The total weight of these stones stands at 5.16 carats, comprising two bright gem-quality stones weighing 1.62 and 1.29 carats, alongside two darker-shaded stones weighing 1.44 and 0.81 carats respectively.
Experts estimate the total market value of these recovered stones to be around 12 lakh rupees. In accordance with government regulations, all four diamonds have been officially deposited with the Panna diamond officer, Anupam Singh, and will be placed in the upcoming official auction.
