Diamond fever grips Andhra's Kurnool as monsoon rains revive treasure hunt
KURNOOL: With the seasons first rainfall in Kurnool district, diamond seekers from Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka have started arriving in Maddikera and Tuggali mandals in search of precious stones. Villagers and fortune-seekers have flocked to areas such as Jonnagiri, Peravali, Pagidirayi, and Madanantapuram, driven by age-old legends linking the region to the buried treasures of Vijayanagara emperor Sri Krishnadevaraya and his minister Timmarusu. Local sources reported a few recent discoveries of valuable stones, further fuelling the rush. A rumour is spreading that a man from Tuggali found stones worth Rs 10 lakh, said Jonnagiri resident G Rama Krishna. We havent seen proof, but its enough to get people moving, he added. Currently, only local villagers are involved, but hundreds more from Kurnool, Anantapur, Kadapa, Prakasam, and Karnatakas Bellary district are expected to arrive in the coming weeks. Many will set up makeshift tents and camp in nearby areas. Experts say the rainfall helps expose stones by washing away the topsoil. Locals estimate that diamonds worth Rs 4 to Rs 5 crore are found annually in these mandals. The impact on the local economy varies. While some villagers earn large sums overnight, others end up selling stones to middlemen, who resell them in trading hubs like Gootty in Anantapur district. A police official from Pathikonda police sub-division confirmed that the seasonal search has begun, although no official reports of significant finds have been received. He also noted that Goa Mysore Services Pvt. Ltd. is currently conducting authorised drilling operations in Pagidirayi to explore gold and other minerals.
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Youngster dies during DJ dance in Kurnool
A resident of Kosigi near the RTC bus stand, Veeresh had come home from Bellary, Karnataka, where he worked as a centering labourer to attend his cousins wedding in Kuppagal in Adoni Mandal
