Mumbai, Nov 21: Indian benchmark indices opened in mild red zone on Friday, amid negative global cues and fading investor hopes of a US Fed rate cut in December.

As of 9.25 am, Sensex declined 80 points, or 0.09 per cent at 85,551 and Nifty dipped 15 points, or 0.05 per cent to 25,860.

The broadcap indices performed in line with the benchmarks, with the Nifty Midcap 100 down 0.30 per cent and the Nifty Smallcap 100 dipped 0.34 per cent.

TCS, Asian Paints and NTPC were among the major gainers in the Nifty Pack, while losers included Hindalco, Shriram Finance, Tata Steel and ICICI Bank.

All the sectoral indices on NSE were trading in red except Nifty Auto (up 0.30 per cent). Nifty Metal down 0.79 per cent was the biggest loser.

Analysts said that India will gain if the AI trade slows down and capital begins to shift into non-AI stocks in emerging markets.

All of the major Asia-Pacific markets fell in early trading sessions after US AI and tech stocks shed value and investors lost hopes of a December rate cut by the Federal Reserve.

The volatility of the market has increased evident by Nasdaq, the barometer of AI trading, ending the day down 2.15 per cent, crashing 4.4 per cent from the intraday peak.

“This type of market movement indicates that there will be more volatility in the future. AI stock prices may see fresh buying at lower valuations. We will need to wait and observe the course of this unstable period,” an analyst said.

The US markets ended in the red zone overnight, as Nasdaq slipped 2.16 per cent, the S&P 500 dropped 1.56 per cent, and the Dow declined 0.84 per cent.

In Asian markets, China’s Shanghai index dipped 1.71 per cent, and Shenzhen dipped 2.52 per cent, Japan’s Nikkei dipped 2.31 per cent, while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index declined 2.17 per cent. South Korea’s Kospi dropped 3.94 per cent.

On Thursday, foreign institutional investors (FIIs) sold equities worth Rs 284 crore, while domestic institutional investors (DIIs) were net buyers of equities worth Rs 824 crore.

Mumbai: Mumbai woke up on Friday to an unusually cool and refreshing November morning, offering residents a brief but welcome break from the city’s otherwise warm, muggy climate. Minimum temperatures dipped below 22°C, and early risers enjoyed clear skies, light winds and a mild chill, conditions that made the metro city feel closer to winter than its typical tropical setting.

But alongside the pleasant change came a stark reminder of the city’s environmental challenges. A thin, lingering layer of smog settled over the skyline, softening visibility and muting the otherwise serene morning. While the cool breeze provided comfort, it failed to disperse the pollution that has been steadily building through the month.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said clear skies are expected to persist through the day, with maximum temperatures likely to climb to 34°C by afternoon. The early-morning coolness is likely to continue for the next few days, meteorologists added, although improving air quality remains uncertain.

Mumbai’s overall AQI touched 263, keeping it consistently in the unhealthy category by Friday morning. This marks a sharp escalation from earlier this month, when the city recorded moderate air quality. Several pockets across the city reported alarming pollution levels, especially in industrial and densely populated zones.

The Wadala Truck Terminal recorded the day’s highest AQI at 375, classified as severe. Malad and Mazgaon followed closely at 305 each, also falling in the severe category. Worli (303) and Chembur (302) were similarly placed, showing how widespread the pollution surge has become.

Suburban areas showed slightly better air quality but still remained within worrying bands. Govandi registered an AQI of 167 and Kandivali East 180, both falling in the poor category. Parel-Bhoiwada (207), Borivali West (220) and Mulund West (220) reported unhealthy air, highlighting that few pockets of the city were spared.

For perspective, AQI between 0–50 is considered good, 51–100 moderate, 101–150 poor, 151–200 unhealthy and anything above 200 severe or hazardous.

Kalyan, Nov 20: A deeply distressing incident has been reported from Kalyan East, where a 19-year-old college student, Arnav Khaire, died by suicide after allegedly being assaulted in a crowded local train during a heated argument over speaking Marathi.

According to the complaint lodged at Kolsewadi Police Station the incident occurred on 18 November. Arnav a first-year science student at Vaze-Kelkar College Mulund boarded the Ambernath–Mumbai local train from Kalyan at around 8:40 am.

As the compartment was packed with passengers he was pushed back repeatedly by the heavy crowd. Arnav politely requested the commuters ahead to move slightly forward so he could stand properly.

However this simple request escalated unexpectedly. A group of two to four passengers allegedly confronted him aggressively, asking: “Are you ashamed to speak Marathi?” Arnav reportedly clarified that he was Marathi himself, but the group refused to listen and began assaulting him between Dombivli and Thane stations inside the moving train.

Shaken, injured, and deeply traumatised, Arnav alighted at Thane instead of travelling onward to Mulund for college. He returned to his home in Sahjeevan Residency, Kalyan East, and informed his father, Jitendra Khaire, about the assault over a phone call. The incident had left him in a state of severe emotional shock.

A short while later, when no family members were at home, Arnav died by suicide by hanging.

Arnav lived with his parents and younger brother. His father, who works in a private firm, expressed profound grief and demanded strict action:

A dispute over language should never reach such an extreme. No family should suffer what we are going through. I want justice for my son.

The Kolsewadi Police have registered an Accidental Death Report (ADR). Confirming the development ACP Kalyan jee Ghete stated that an ADR has been registered and a detailed police investigation is currently underway.

Since the assault took place aboard a running suburban train, the case may be transferred to the Kalyan Railway Police for further investigation. Officials said that the identity and linguistic background of the accused will be established only after a thorough inquiry.

Despite Arnav himself being Marathi he was allegedly assaulted by individuals who questioned his use of the language a fact that has sparked serious concern among local residents. The incident has raised alarming questions about rising intolerance and commuter safety in Mumbai’s suburban railway network.

The Khaire family, devastated by the loss of their son, continues to urge authorities for a fair, transparent, and swift investigation into the events that pushed the young student to end his life.