When the rains started in Panna, a large crowd gathered on the banks of the Rundh River. They arrived with tools, looking at the river's sand and soil, hoping that they would be lucky today and find a diamond. Not just a few people arrived; hundreds headed to the riverbed in search of precious stones. Some even set up tents and settled there.
People came not only from Panna but also from neighboring areas and from Banda in Uttar Pradesh. However, the situation changed when this crowd reached the forest department's territory. A team of forest workers arrived at the Rundh River and began removing people from there.
The problem arose in the Vishramanganj area of Panna. Near the flooded zone of the Rundh dam, a sudden increase in the crowd gathered in the bed of the Rundh River. People began arriving from different places hoping to find diamonds in the river's sand and soil after the rains. Some sifted the earth by hand, some carefully examined the sand, and some took up spots for searching.
People came here from places such as Chhatrapur, Panna, Tikamgarh, and Damoh, as well as from Banda in Uttar Pradesh. When the crowd became too large, some people even put up temporary tents on the riverbank. This meant that the hope was not just for a few hours of searching, but many came here to test their luck, staying in place.
Shyam Bai from Panna, who came looking for diamonds, said that she has been going to this river after the rainy season for many years. And this time she came with the same hope. Nevertheless, according to her, she has not managed to find a large diamond yet. She noted that small diamonds are found, but they do not bring much income. From her words, it can be understood that diamond hunting in the bed of the Panna River is not a new thing for some residents. With the onset of the rains, this hope revives again, which might change lives with the sparkle coming out of the earth.
Pawarti Kodar from Old Panna also went to the Rundh River in search. She reported that this time it was very difficult for her, and forest department employees removed her from there. According to her, she was only able to search for a short time.
The forest department learned about the growing crowd around the Rundh River. After this, a team arrived at the site. The forest department's concern was not only about what people were looking for in the river. The entire area is connected to the forest zone, and there is a danger of wild animals and poisonous creatures.
During the rainy season, the condition of the river and the surrounding land also changes. Under such conditions, a large number of people gathered there can pose a safety risk. The forest department explained the situation to the people and removed the gathered crowd from the riverbank.
The forest department team arrived at the site under the guidance of the Director of the Forest Department (DFO) Direndra Pratap Singh and under the supervision of ranger Rahul Singh Sikwara from Vishramanganj. The team explained the situation to the people and cleared the entire area. According to the forest department, surveillance in the area has also been increased to prevent illegal activities. DFO Direndra Pratap Singh also stated that the team arrived at the site, removed the people, and intensified monitoring in the region.
As is known, when Panna is mentioned, diamonds are primarily remembered. There is a long history of diamond searching and mining here. That is why the hope of finding diamonds in the riverbed after the rains attracts people here. But while searching for something shiny on the riverbank seems exciting, it can also be a big risk, especially if the location is in a forest zone and wild animals and poisonous creatures live nearby.
This time, hundreds of people also came to the banks of the Rundh River to test their luck. Whether anyone found anything is a separate question. Currently, the forest department has removed the crowd, and the area is being monitored, as the sparkle of diamonds in Panna invariably attracts people, but before seeking luck between the forest and the river, it is important to observe safety and rules.
