The domestic equity benchmark indices plummeted on Thursday, extending their losses to a second straight day, amid surging crude oil prices and further monetary policy tightening after the RBI ruled out rate cuts in near term. The sustained foreign fund outflows also weighed on the indices.

The 30-share BSE Sensex plunged 1,045.46 points, or 1.44 per cent, to settle at 71,593.24. The 50-share NSE Nifty tanked 371.25 points, or 1.64 per cent, to end at 22,231.80.  The Nifty touched a 21 month low and had also hit its 52-week low of 22,179.90 in intra-day trade, according to news agency PTI.