New Delhi, April 2 -- Indian equity benchmarks plunged during early trade on Thursday as investors reacted sharply to U.S. President Donald Trump's address regarding the escalating Middle East conflict. The BSE Sensex and NSE Nifty 50 both dropped over two per cent within minutes of the opening bell, erasing gains from the previous session's relief rally.

The BSE Sensex stood at 71,616.03 points, down 1518.29 points or 2.08 per cent at 9:16 am. Similarly, the NSE Nifty 50 stood at 22,216.90 points, reflecting a decline of 462.50 points or 2.04 per cent. The downward movement follows a period of brief recovery where the Nifty had closed 348 points higher and the Sensex had climbed 1187 points.

Market experts noted that the volatility is ...