Mumbai, April 23 -- The equity benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty tumbled on Thursday, extending losses for a second straight session. Firm crude oil prices and ongoing geopolitical tensions rattled sentiment. Brent crude surged for the fourth consecutive day to around $103 per barrel amid uncertainty over US-Iran talks and fresh concerns around the Strait of Hormuz. Weak Asian cues and persistent foreign fund outflows deepened the sell-off. The Nifty slipped below the 24,200 mark, dragged by auto, PSU banks and consumer durables stocks, while pharma and healthcare shares saw selective buying. Investors stayed cautious, closely tracking the ongoing Q4 earnings season for further triggers.

The S&P BSE Sensex declined 852.49 points or 1.09...