During the early afternoon session, major Indian equity indices, including the S&P BSE Sensex and Nifty 50, experienced significant losses. The Sensex fell by 817.74 points (1.06%) to 76,678.62, while the Nifty 50 dropped 276.60 points (1.11%) to 23,900.55. This downturn was attributed to heightened volatility from exit poll predictions for state elections, rising oil prices hitting historic highs, and the rupee depreciating to a record low. Foreign institutional investors continued to sell, adding to the downward pressure on the market. The broader market also reflected this trend, with the BSE 150 MidCap Index declining 1.31% and the BSE 250 SmallCap Index falling 0.74%. The market breadth showed a strong decline, with 1,296 shares rising against 2,648 shares that fell. The NSE's India VIX, a measure of market volatility, jumped 7.09% to 18.68, indicating increased investor anxiety. Notably, the Nifty Metal index fell 2.07% after a previous surge, with major companies like National Aluminium and Vedanta seeing significant declines in their stock prices. In contrast, Hindustan Unilever reported a 20.97% increase in net profit, showcasing resilience amid the overall market downturn.