Panna (MP): For many in Panna district, months of digging through the soil carry the hope of changing their fortunes forever. For one tribal family, that hope has become reality once again.

A tribal family in Madhya Pradesh’s diamond-rich Panna district has discovered an 11.19-carat diamond.

The diamond was unearthed on Monday at the Ahirgawan mining camp, located around 20 kilometres from Panna. Officials said the stone is of good quality and is expected to fetch several lakh rupees when it goes for auction after formal assessment.

According to Diamond Inspector Nutan Jain, the family had applied for the mining lease in March and received approval in April before beginning excavation work.
Officials noted that the exact value of the diamond will be determined after evaluation by government-appointed appraisers. Initial estimates suggest the stone could attract a substantial price at auction.

Diamond Department expert Anupam Singh said the newly discovered gem has minor black inclusions but remains a quality diamond. 

Earlier, the miner’s father had found a 19.22-carat diamond, which was later auctioned for approximately ₹93 lakh, making this the family’s second major strike in recent years.

Expressing his excitement, miner Rakesh Gond said the discovery brought immense happiness to the family after weeks of effort at the mining site.

Panna is widely known for its diamond reserves, where hundreds of families take mining leases each year in the hope of uncovering valuable stones. While success is rare, stories like this continue to fuel dreams across the region.