The benchmark BSE Sensex slumped by over 800 points or 3.45 per cent to 22,950.90. The Nifty crashed 232.30 points or 3.21 per cent to 6,983.40.
Barring Cipla, all the stocks from the 30-share Sensex traded down. Besides, all the sectoral indexes led by realty, bank, metal and power were lower by up to 6.24 per cent.
Brokers said persistent selling by participants, tracking a weak trend at Asian markets where Hong Kong stocks plunged 5 per cent to three-year low today, leading another sell-off across Asian markets and extending a global rout.
European markets were also lower in their early trend.