New Delhi: The stock market crash continued unabated today (May 17, 2004) forcing the authorities to freeze trading for the second time as BSE index plummeted by 822 points, hurting millions of investors who lost upto an estimated Rs 2 lakh crore this morning.

Market authorities first halted trading for one hour at 1015 hours as market fell by over 550 points but the freeze was imposed again within minutes of recommencement as the downhill march continued.

After recommencing trading at 11:15 hours, it was closed within three minutes as the BSE fell further by 272 points to reach 4247.59.

The National Stock Exchange plummeted to 1306 points after losing 276 points.