Mumbai, Nov 18: Indian stock markets opened lower on Tuesday as weak global cues weighed on investor sentiment. Both benchmark indices slipped 0.2 per cent at the opening bell.

The Sensex dropped 195 points to trade at 84,756 in early deals, while the Nifty fell 64 points to 25,949. Most heavyweight stocks were under pressure, dragging the indices down.

“Immediate resistance now lies at 26,100, followed by 26,150, while the 25,850–25,900 band is likely to offer meaningful support and serve as an accumulation zone for positional traders,” market experts said.

“These levels will remain crucial as the index navigates early weakness,” experts noted.

Tata Steel, Bajaj Finance, Bajaj Finserv, Kotak Mahindra Bank, Larsen & Toubro, Mahindra & Mahindra, Tech Mahindra, HCL Tech, Sun Pharma and Titan were among the major laggards, declining between 0.5 per cent and 1 per cent.

However, a few stocks managed to stay in positive territory. Bharat Electronics, Bharti Airtel, Axis Bank, Eternal and State Bank of India were the only gainers on the Sensex, rising up to 0.5 per cent.

Broader markets also opened weak, with the Nifty MidCap index slipping 0.25 per cent and the Nifty SmallCap index falling 0.40 per cent.

Among sectoral indices, Nifty PSU Bank was the only one to trade higher, gaining 0.25 per cent. On the other hand, Nifty Realty and Nifty Metal dropped 0.8 per cent each, while the Nifty IT index fell 0.5 per cent.

The Bank Nifty mirrored the broader market’s resilience, reflecting renewed buying momentum.

“Strong support is identified at 58,600, and a breakdown below this mark may trigger a modest decline toward 58,800,” market watchers mentioned.

“On the upside, resistance at 59,100 remains a key barrier, and a sustained breakout above this level may open the path toward 59,300, indicating potential continuation of the bullish trend,” experts stated.

Mumbai: Mumbai’s already strained commute worsened on Tuesday morning as local train services on the Central Railway’s main line were briefly disrupted following the detection of a rail fracture between Vikhroli and Kanjurmarg stations. The incident occurred at around 7.32 am on the down slow line, forcing railway authorities to immediately impose speed restrictions and divert services to prevent any potential mishap, officials confirmed.

Suburban trains, considered the lifeline of Mumbai, slowed down majorly, resulting in delays of nearly 10–20 minutes for office-bound commuters during peak hours. Maintenance personnel reached the spot without delay and declared the track safe for movement by 7.58 am, though with a temporary speed cap of 30 kmph to ensure safety.

During this period, several slow trains were shifted onto the fast line from Matunga station to ease congestion and maintain continuity of service, said Central Railway’s chief public relations officer, Swapnil Nila.

The affected stretch forms part of the crucial Central Railway main corridor that links south Mumbai to densely populated eastern suburbs and further connects to extended regions in Thane and Raigad. With over 35 lakh daily passengers depending on Central Railway’s suburban network, even minor technical faults can trigger cascading delays, making punctuality difficult to maintain across services.

The track fracture comes on a day when the city is already struggling with widespread transportation issues amid the ongoing CNG crisis, now in its second day. Damage to GAIL’s main supply pipeline at the Rashtriya Chemicals and Fertilizers (RCF) compound has led to severe fuel shortages and closure of multiple CNG stations across Mumbai, Thane and Navi Mumbai. As a result, thousands of autorickshaws, kaali-peeli taxis and cab aggregators have reduced operations substantially, leaving commuters with limited road transport options and increased fares.

With road-based public transport under heavy strain, a greater number of commuters turned to suburban rail services and metro lines, intensifying passenger load at stations. More than 1,273 electric BEST buses and four metro corridors have been deployed to support demand, yet long waiting times and overcrowding persisted throughout the morning rush.

Although Mahanagar Gas Limited (MGL) has assured that restoration of gas supply is expected by Tuesday afternoon, uncertainty over timelines has left residents anxious.

Mumbai: Mumbai experienced a crisp and pleasantly cool start to Tuesday as clear skies, light winds and mild winter-like temperatures provided a refreshing break from the city’s usual warm, humid climate. Early morning brought a noticeable chill in the air, giving residents a brief taste of seasonal comfort rarely felt in November. However, the welcome weather was partially overshadowed by a thin layer of smog hanging over the skyline.

According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Tuesday is expected to remain clear and moderately warm, with daytime temperatures forecast to peak at around 33°C. Night and pre-dawn temperatures may fall to nearly 19°C, continuing the mild winter-style pattern seen early in the morning. Despite the pleasant conditions, low visibility was reported in multiple parts of the city as haze persisted through early hours, muting what could have been an ideal seasonal morning.

The uptick in pollution levels comes shortly after intense rainfall had temporarily cleansed the atmosphere, flushing out dust and suspended particulate matter. For a short window, air quality and visibility markedly improved, prompting relief among residents. But as rain activity ceased, harmful pollutants rapidly began to accumulate again, reversing the gains and pushing Mumbai back into unhealthy air territory.

On Monday morning, Mumbai recorded an overall Air Quality Index (AQI) of 274, placing it in the ‘unhealthy’ category and marking a major deterioration from the moderate levels seen earlier this month.

Several locations reported highly concerning numbers, particularly the Wadala Truck Terminal, which recorded an AQI of 406, falling into the hazardous range. Chembur (325) and Mazgaon (321) also showed severe pollution levels, with Malad (315) and Colaba (315) following close behind.

Suburban pockets recorded relatively better but still unsatisfactory readings. Kandivali East stood at 173 and Mankhurd at 197, both in the poor category, while Borivali East (207), Jogeshwari (207) and Bhandup West (217) registered unhealthy levels, reflecting city-wide impact.

According to established AQI standards, values between 0–50 are categorised as Good, 51–100 Moderate, 101–150 Poor, 151–200 Unhealthy, and readings beyond 200 fall into Severe or Hazardous categories.