‘Precious stones’ found in Odisha village, residents rush to dig out 'gemstones'

A wave of excitement has enveloped a small village in Odisha's Boudh district following rumours of gemstone discoveries beneath the Earth. The village, Khuntiapada, has become a hive of activity as locals, driven by tales of precious stones being unearthed, dig diligently in hopes of striking it rich.

Residents of Khuntiapada are in a frenzy as reports of gemstones hidden in their soil have spread like wildfire. People of all ages are intensively combing through the soil in search of these precious stones, hopeful of finding valuable treasures.

The uproar began following road construction work in the village. The gemstone hunt started unintentionally during a road construction project when contractors excavated soil and inadvertently exposed these mysterious stones. Since then, residents, irrespective of age, have been engaged in this search.

According to unconfirmed reports, black marketers are reportedly paying the locals between Rs 2,500 and Rs 3,000 per kilogram for these potential treasures.

Despite the frenzy, the precise nature and value of the stones remain undetermined, awaiting expert identification. However, authorities concerned are yet to identify the true nature and origin of these stones, leaving many questions unanswered.

When contacted, local authorities say that the area falls under the jurisdiction of the Boudh police, and they are aware of the situation. However, no official statement has been released yet on the nature of these alleged precious stones.

“The precious stones were discovered a couple of days ago. Since then, people are coming here in huge numbers to dig them out. Mostly poor people are digging out the stones, in the hope of earning some money. I was also here for the stones and have found some,” a local stated.