It was a horrendous day at the stock markets, with the Sensex and the Nifty plunging to their lowest levels since Prime Minister Narendra Modi was elected in May 2014.
The Bombay Stock Exchange Sensex fell 807 points on Thursday, its biggest fall in six months, following a massive sell-off in bank, power, realty and stocks coupled with weak global cues. It finished the day at 22,951.83.
The National Stock Exchange Nifty fell below the 7,000-mark after falling 239.35 points or 3.32 per cent to 6,976.35.
State Bank of India fell 2.6% after saying quarterly net profit fell nearly two-thirds, below estimates.
The development came just two days after the Central Statistical Office projected an encouraging 7.6% Gross Domestic Product Growth.
The Union finance ministry tried to soothe the nerves of jittery investors, saying that the Indian economy is doing well. It added that the performance of domestic stock markets is not as bad as that of other nations.
Reserve Bank of India governor Raghuram Rajan also made assuring sounds that the market turmoil would pass.
Amid all the doom and gloom, there were attempts on social media to lift spirits with some humour. Here's a selection:
I thought nothing could stoop so low than my morals but then I chanced upon sensex.
— Earthlington (@Earthlington) February 11, 2016
Sensex is anti-national.
— Tinu Cherian Abraham (@tinucherian) February 11, 2016
Sensex at 21 month low following nonperformance of Modi.
— Sanjiv Bhatt (IPS) (@sanjivbhatt) February 11, 2016
Bhakts at 21 month high following the performance of Headley.
See the charm and popularity of selfie PM Modi ji even #sensex is coming down to touch his feet. Anti nation people will not understand.
— Vergilius IYC (@VergiliusIYC) February 11, 2016
#Sensex is not only anti-national.....
— siona gogoi (@siona_gogoi) February 11, 2016
It should be Banned because it has "Sex" in it.....!!!- Pahlaj Nihlani #bjpdestroyingindia
No #AacheDin @ Dalal Street#Sensex down by 1792 pts since (26/5/14)
— Maharashtra Congress (@mahcongress) February 11, 2016
Crashes massive 7100 pts from March '15 peak. pic.twitter.com/TmzTSeI43J
#SwachhBharat on #DalalStreet. Many must have been wiped clean today.
— SonaliRanade (@sonaliranade) February 11, 2016