When fake news started a diamond rush in Surat

Gujarat's Surat saw a manic situation on Sunday after fake news about a trader throwing diamonds on roads began circulating, leading to a diamond rush in the city's Mini Bazaar area.

As per a report in The Times of India, rumours began to circulate around 9 am on Sunday, with whispers that an irate trader had tossed CVD (a type of lab-grown diamond) gems onto the road after their prices reportedly plummeted by a staggering 30%.


Word of this potential windfall quickly spread, prompting a rush of people eager to collect the diamonds. However, it was later discovered that these were not CVD diamonds but rather diamonds typically used in embroidery work.

Recounting the incident, a local trader told th Times of India, "The incident unfolded at 9 am, just as the market was gearing up for the day. Crowds gathered along the stretch of road from Khodiyarnagar to Mini Bazaar in Varachha. Some traders also made their way there to ascertain the authenticity of the diamonds. Regrettably, they turned out to be imitation diamonds, in fact, they were plastic diamonds commonly employed in embroidery and imitation jewelry."


As per the Times of India report, additional rumors began to circulate within the market, suggesting a slowdown in the diamond industry as the prices of CVD diamonds had experienced a significant drop in recent days.

Many individuals also filmed others collecting the supposed diamonds from the street and subsequently shared these videos on social media platforms. The viral nature of these videos led to even more people converging on the scene, either to witness the spectacle or participate in the treasure hunt, added the report.

The incident serves as a stark reminder of the influence and rapid spread of rumors in the age of social media, where unverified information can trigger unexpected events.