Indian labourers dream of striking it rich after ‘$52,400’ diamond find

In central India's diamond mining region of Panna, a group of seven impoverished laborers have uncovered what they believe could transform their lives. The men claim they discovered a sizable diamond while leasing a plot of land two years prior. Measuring in at 17.96 carats, the rock was certified as "gem quality" by Panna diamond official Ravi Patel, who estimated its value at a minimum of 5 million rupees ($52,400; £38,800).

Panna, located in Madhya Pradesh state, is among India's least developed districts - a region plagued by poverty, water scarcity, and unemployment. Diamond finds are commonplace in the area, but the miners rarely reap the rewards. Most laborers are daily-wage earners working under lease-holders, meaning the proceeds from any discovered diamonds go to the lease-holders, not the actual finders.

However, this particular discovery stands out. Akhilesh Pal, along with six friends, leased the Sarokha village mine two years back. The mine had been idle for a year before Pal reopened it recently. As he surveyed the mine after heavy rains, he identified the diamond on top of the old mine site. "We had been mining there for about two years," Pal said, "but we had no luck, so we closed the mine for a year.

We had started another mine right next to it. When we went there to inspect the new one, we also looked inside the old mine, and that's where we found it – right on top."

According to Patel, the diamond will be auctioned during the upcoming quarterly sale in October, accessible to buyers from both India and overseas. The government will withhold a 12% royalty from the earnings, after which the remaining funds will be equally distributed among the seven workers. Some of the impoverished laborers revealed to local media that their newfound wealth could potentially alter their lives, allowing them to get married for the first time.