Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) skipper Rishabh Pant will play his team's match against Punjab Kings (PBKS), thus allaying injury fears ahead of the important match. During LSG's match against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) on 15 April, Rishabh Pant was hit on his left arm after facing a short length
Who is Kajal Meena? Rajasthan SDM and RAS topper arrested for accepting bribeKajal Meena, an IIT graduate, was held by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) on April 16, along with two others. Updated on: Apr 19, 2026 5:10 PM IST By Arya Mishra Share via Copy link A sub-divisional magistrate in
It’s one thing to reach the summit. Staying there is the real test. And right now, Jannik Sinner isn’t backing down from either. Fresh off his Monte Carlo triumph, the newly crowned World No. 1 has confirmed his participation at the Madrid Open
Govt okays ₹12,980-crore maritime insurance poolThe decision will help lower costs for Indian vessels as global underwriters have hiked risk-mitigation charges to historic highs due to the war in West Asia. Published on: Apr 19, 2026 1:44 PM IST By Zia Haq
Milk sits quietly at the centre of Indian households, poured into morning tea, stirred into children’s routines, and trusted almost instinctively as a source of nutrition. But that trust, increasingly, is being questioned. According to Food Safety and Standards Authority of India
Childhood friends find '$55,000 diamond' in Panna
Childhood friends find '$55,000 diamond' in India
On a recent winter morning in Panna, a diamond mining region in central India, two childhood friends made a discovery that they think could change their lives forever.
Satish Khatik and Sajid Mohammed stumbled upon a large, glistening rock on a plot of land they had leased just weeks earlier.
When they took the stone to the city's official diamond evaluator, they learnt they had found a 15.34-carat gem-quality diamond - one of the finest varieties of natural diamonds that exist.
"The estimated market price of the stone is around five to six million rupees [$55,000 - $66,000; £41,000 - £49,000] and it will be auctioned soon," Anupam Singh, the diamond evaluator, told BBC Hindi.
The government holds quarterly auctions, drawing buyers from across India and abroad to bid for the diamonds.
"Estimated prices depend on the dollar rate and benchmarks set by the Rapaport report," Mr Singh said. Rapaport is widely regarded as a leading authority on independent diamond and jewellery market analysis.
Mr Khatik and Mr Mohammed say they are over the moon. "We can now get our sisters married," they said.
Mr Khatik, 24, who runs a meat shop and Mr Mohammed, 23 who sells fruits, come from poor backgrounds and are the youngest sons in their families.
For generations, their families have been trying their luck at finding diamonds, which is a common quest among the district's residents.
Panna, which is in Madhya Pradesh state, is among India's least developed districts - its residents face poverty, water scarcity and unemployment.
But it's also home to most of India's diamond reserves and remains a prime destination for diamond hunters.
India's diamond reserves are relatively limited compared with the world's major producers, but they are historically significant.
While most mines are run by the federal government, state authorities lease small plots to locals each year at nominal rates. With few job opportunities in the city, residents hope for a prized find to improve their fortunes - but most come up empty-handed.
Mr Mohammed says that his father and grandfather had dug through these plots for decades but discovered nothing more that "dust and slivers of quartz".
His father Nafees says that the "gods have finally rewarded their hard work and patience".
They leased a plot in search of diamonds partly out of desperation, as their meagre incomes could not keep pace with rising household costs - let alone pay for a wedding, Mr Mohammed told the BBC.
Searching for diamonds is no easy task but the two friends would sift through mounds of dirt after work in the evenings, or whenever they got time off from their day jobs.
Like most locals, they searched for diamonds by hand - digging pits, hauling out soil and rock, washing it through sieves and carefully sifting through thousands of tiny stones once dried.
Ravi Patel, Panna's district mining officer, said the two friends were incredibly lucky.
"They had leased out a plot on 19 November. It's their luck that they found a diamond of gem quality within a few weeks," he said.
Though they have yet to collect the money, Mr Khatik and Mr Mohammed say they are hopeful.
"We are not thinking of buying land, expanding our businesses or moving to a bigger city; not yet. For now, we are focused on getting our sisters married," they said.
Source: BBC
Related Posts: Step-By-Step Guide To Make Raw Mango Panna At Home — Summer's Best Cooler Namibia's Mining Revenue Dips Amid Diamond Industry Slowdown Are we teaching enough of India’s recent past in our history classes ISRO gets ready for one of its busiest times in recent memory Candidate lists OnlyFans as ‘recent experience’ for a director-level job role Iran's Khamenei says recent anti-government protests akin to Pakistan will not restrict mountaineering expeditions despite the recent deaths of climbers Why This RBI Policy Review Is Among The Most Challenging In Recent Years Iranian state TV issues first official death toll from recent protests Major tech outages in recent years
T-Series founder Gulshan Kumar’s brother Darshan Kumar dies at 70; Mika Singh pays emotional tributeDarshan Kumar, brother of T-Series founder Gulshan Kumar, passed away in Delhi at 70, leaving the music industry mourning his legacy. Apr 19, 2026
1 days ago
Suicides at NIT Kurukshetra: CPI-M MP Brittas seeks Education Minister's interventionSuicides at NIT Kurukshetra: CPI-M MP Brittas seeks Education Minister's intervention Published on: Apr 19, 2026 11:51 AM IST PTI Share via Copy link New Delhi
1 days ago
The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Saturday gave its approval for the continuation of Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana-III (PMGSY-III) beyond March 2025 upto March 2028. It involves consolidation of Through Routes and Major Rural Links connecting habitations to
1 days ago
Odisha gets India’s first 3D glass chip packaging plantThe facility set up by US-based 3D Glass Solutions Inc. (3DGS) at Info Valley in Bhubaneswar is worth ₹1,943 crore Published on: Apr 19, 2026 4:51 PM IST By Debabrata Mohanty, Bhubaneswar Share via Copy link Odisha chief minister Mohan
1 days ago
Chennai Super Kings seized control early, winning the PowerPlay battle against Sunrisers Hyderabad on its own turf – something few teams manage with such authority. Even after losing Sanju Samson early, it surged ahead thanks to Ayush Mhatre’s blistering 13-ball 30
1 days ago
Pune dermatologist explains how to decide what hair loss treatment is right for you: Hair transplant, PRP or GFCDr Chavan says hair restoration choices depend on follicle health – PRP and GFC work on existing follicles, while transplants are for advanced baldness. Published on: Apr 19
1 days ago
A Delhi-based entrepreneur has sparked online debate after sharing a raw and honest look at what startup life is really like behind the scenes. Nikhil Gaur, founder of Hypeschool, shared a video on Instagram showing himself arriving at his office at 5 am
1 days ago
For many years, liver disease has been closely associated with alcohol consumption. However, this is no longer the full picture. Today, doctors are increasingly diagnosing liver disease in people who rarely or never consume alcohol. This condition
1 days ago
Like everyone else, I cannot wait for Sunday's massive game between Manchester City and Arsenal. From a manager's perspective, both teams have many strengths and very few weaknesses. The same applies to the two men who are in charge of them.Like everyone else
1 days ago
Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan underwent surgery on Saturday evening following a health complication, leaving his fans concerned. Now, megastar Chiranjeevi has shared a health update on his brother, Pawan Kalyan, confirming that he is safe, stable
1 days ago
Gold, silver prices on Akshaya Tritiya 2026: Check latest rates in Delhi, Mumbai, other citiesIf you’re planning to buy jewellery, keep in mind that the final price may be higher, as jewellers typically add making charges and GST to the base rate. Updated on: Apr 19
1 days ago
The self-enumeration portal for the ongoing Census had been showing Pasighat in Arunachal Pradesh as a Chinese town named Medog, a retired Indian Air Force officer pointed out on Saturday. Hours later, census officials said the error had been resolved
1 days ago
Iran's Parliament Speaker claimed its forces neutralized 180 drones and targeted a US F-35 stealth fighter, signaling advanced defense capabilities. He linked these military developments to ongoing indirect talks with Washington, stating that while some consensus exists, major differences persist
1 days ago
‘Extraordinary’ security measures in Pakistan ahead of potential second round of US-Iran talksAuthorities have announced that from Sunday midnight, several sensitive areas surrounding Nur Khan Airbase and Islamabad International Airport will be sealed. Published on: Apr 19
1 days ago
The poll body noted that over 11,000 violative social media posts have been addressed since March 15, while 3,10,393 complaints were resolved via the C-Vigil app, highlighting a 96.01% resolution rate within 100 minutes. New Delhii: The (ECI) on Saturday reiterated strict compliance with legal
1 days ago
To understand why India’s China deficit keeps growing, you have to go back further than last year’s trade data. You have to go back 35 years — to 1990, when India and China were, by most measures, economic equals. New Delhi: There is a number buried inside India’s FY26 trade data that
1 days ago
Blinkit vs Instamart vs roadside vendor: Gurgaon woman reveals cheapest grocery optionA Gurgaon woman compared grocery prices and found roadside vendors were cheaper than Blinkit and Instamart. Published on: Apr 19, 2026 4:08 PM IST By Mahipal Singh Chouhan Share via Copy link A Gurgaon woman has
1 days ago
Who was Liv Perrotto? Elon Musk fulfils cancer-struck teen's last wish in heartfelt gestureElon Musk responded to 15-year-old cancer patient Liv Perrotto's questions, revealing he won't develop his own phone and sharing his love for anime. Published on: Apr 19
1 days ago
SSLC grading row: K'taka government files review petition in HCSSLC grading row: K'taka government files review petition in HC Published on: Apr 18, 2026 11:10 PM IST PTI Share via Copy link Bengaluru, The Karnataka government has filed a review petition in the High Court against a single judge
1 days ago
Kamal Haasan urges Centre to implement women's reservation bill without linking it to delimitationKamal Haasan said that if we are serious about women’s empowerment, 33% reservation must be implemented immediately. Apr 19, 2026, 17:12:50 IST By Santanu Das Share via Copy link Actor and Makkal
1 days ago
Northeast woman shares how gifting a jhaadu to Delhi landlord changed their relationship: 'United by jhaadu'A Northeast woman shared how gifting a jhaadu transformed her relationship with her landlord in Delhi. Updated on: Apr 19, 2026 4:25 PM IST By Bhavya Sukheja Share via Copy link A
1 days ago
TCS case: Kin of accused call him ‘high-performer’; blame office politics, jealousy for allegationsTCS case: Kin of accused call him ‘high-performer’; blame office politics, jealousy for allegations Published on: Apr 19, 2026 4:49 PM IST PTI Share via Copy link Nashik
1 days ago
Beer Price India: The ongoing conflict in West Asia has intensified pressure on the Indian beer sector, triggering a sharp rise in input costs, supply disruptions and continued pricing restrictions. Vivek Gupta, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of United Breweries Ltd
1 days ago
Prime Minister Narendra Modi asserted that the West Bengal assembly election is a fight to preserve the state's identity, accusing the Mamata Banerjee government of favoring "infiltrators" over native populations. He alleged the TMC aims to form a "government of infiltrators and for infiltrators
1 days ago
New Delhi, Apr 19 (PTI) Delhi Traffic Police has booked 269 people for drunk driving during a special integrated night checking across the national capital, officials said on Sunday. The three-hour operation was conducted between 9 pm and midnight on Saturday in coordination with local police and
1 days ago
New Delhi:The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has announced that multiple state governments will raise a total of Rs 16,900 crore through the revised auction of State Government Securities (SGS), scheduled to be conducted on April 21. According to the Central Bank release
1 days ago
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky has condemned a US decision to extend the period during which Russia is allowed to sell oil despite Western sanctions. The move means countries can purchase Russian oil and petroleum products already loaded on vessels at sea until 16 May
1 days ago
