Mumbai, Mar15 : The Sensex at the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) on Tuesday plunged 401 points to 18,037 and the Nifty fell 122 points to 5,408 due to looming threat of a nuclear disaster in Japan, following a massive tsunami that struck northeast Japan on Friday.

Japan''s Nikkei plunged 12.94 per cent, following a statement released by Prime Minister Naoto Kan, saying about radiation leak from one of the nuclear plants.

Japan is reeling under the devastating effects of a massive earthquake, measuring 9 on the Richter scale.

The earthquake has damaged the cooling systems at Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant, as a result there have been hydrogen explosions at three of the four reactors.

The Nikkei had closed 6.18 per cent lower on Monday, the first trading day after the quake hit the country.

The markets across Asia have declined. The Hang Seng has fallen 3.83 per cent, the South Korean Kospi declined 3.43 per cent and the Chinese markets have fallen 2-3 per cent.

The Japanese Government has mobilised a widespread rescue effort to deliver food, water and fuel, and pull stranded survivors from buildings and damaged homes.

Japan is located in one of the world''s most seismically active areas. The country accounts for about 20 percent of the world''s earthquakes. (ANI)