New Delhi - Several people were injured in serial explosions in three busy market areas in New Delhi on Saturday.

The blasts took place in the city's crowded Ghaffar Market, Connaught Place and Greater Kailash area beginning at 6.15 pm local time when the areas were full of shoppers, the NDTV network reported.

"I have been informed that there are blasts. I appeal to people not to panic," Delhi chief minister Shiela Dikshit told the CNN-IBN network.

Police were to ascertain the number of people injured and said the nature of explosions was not known.

Witnesses said they could hear deafening blasts as panic gripped shoppers.

"There was a loud blast near the Metro station and I could see some people were taken on ambulances," Sudhir Rao, who was at Connaught Place told news channels. (dpa)