The 30-share index slipped below 18,000 mark by plunging 325.64 points, or 1.78 per cent, to 17,981.88. All sectoral indices led by financials and realty trading in negative territory with fall up to 3.08 per cent. Sensex had lost over 1,060 points in the previous two sessions.
Similarly, the wide-based National Stock Exchange index Nifty slipped below 5,400 points mark by falling 91.75 points, or 1.69 per cent, to 5,323.
In the Asian region, Hong Kong's Hang Seng index was down 0.30 per cent, while Japan's Nikkei Index shed 0.53 per cent in the morning trade today.
The US Dow Jones Industrial Average ended 0.47 per cent lower in yesterday's trade.