Mumbai, Aug 30 : The Indian rupee plunged to a fresh record low of 70.81 to a US dollar during the morning trade session on Thursday.

Around 10.00 a.m. the Indian rupee was pegged at 70.68 after it touched 70.81 to a US dollar -- the lowest ever mark -- against the greenback.

It opened the day's trade at the Interbank foreign exchange market at 70.58 to a US dollar and soon surpassed its record low of 70.65 to a greenback on Wednesday.

According to analysts, continuous outflow of foreign funds, along with caution ahead of key macro-economic data, coupled with volatile global crude oil prices pulled the Indian rupee to a fresh low.

"Importers month-end US dollar demand and high crude oil prices have pulled the rupee lower," Anand Rathi Shares and Stock Brokers research analyst Rushabh Maru told IANS.

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Raichur (Karnataka) (PTI): Fire broke out near the stage of the mass marriage event that was attended by Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar here, police said on Sunday.

Nobody was affected, and the fire was immediately put out, they said.

The fire was noticed shortly after Shivakumar and other dignitaries left the stage, and Forest Minister Eshwaran Khandre was speaking to the media at the venue in Sindhanur, officials said.

According to officials, wires, speakers, and cloth materials near the stage caught fire, allegedly due to a short circuit.

Police personnel present at the spot quickly swung into action and extinguished the fire.

The programme was halted for some time and resumed later, they said.

Several ministers, legislators and political leaders from the region, and actor Sudeep had attended the event.