Indian stock markets experienced a substantial decline on January 6, 2025, with the Sensex dropping 1,258 points and the Nifty falling to 23,616, reflecting a loss of approximately Rs 12 lakh crore in investor wealth. The downturn was attributed to fears surrounding a potential outbreak of the human metapneumovirus (HMPV) and a weakening rupee, which led to panic selling across all sectors. The Sensex and Nifty both fell over 1.5%, marking their steepest drop in three months. Following this, on January 7, the markets showed signs of recovery, with the Nifty trading above 23,750, driven by gains in energy and PSU bank stocks. However, concerns over HMPV and global economic uncertainties continued to weigh on investor sentiment. By January 8, the Sensex had fallen by 51 points to close at 78,149, while the Nifty ended down 19 points at 23,689, despite a last-hour recovery led by Reliance and IT stocks. Overall, the markets have been volatile, with significant fluctuations in response to health concerns and economic indicators.