New Delhi - At least 40 people were injured as serial explosions ripped through three busy market areas in the Indian capital New Delhi on Saturday, officials and news reports said.

The blasts took place in the city's crowded Ghaffar Market, Connaught Place and Greater Kailash areas beginning at 6.15 pm local time.

There were no reports of any fatalities. The police have not confirmed whether the explosions were terrorist strikes.

At least 20 people were injured in the blast at Ghaffar market and were taken to the nearby Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, the PTI news agency reported.

New Delhi, Sept 13 : Four blasts occurred simultaneously in the evening in different areas of the national capital.

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.

New Delhi - India on Saturday test-fired its indigenously developed air-to-air missile Astra from a military base in eastern Orissa state, a news report said.

The missile which is capable of carrying a 15-kilogram warhead, was test-fired at the Integrated Test Range in Chandipur, 230 kilometres north-east of state capital Bhubaneshwar, the PTI news agency reported.

Although the exact range of Saturday's trial was not disclosed, the missile has a range of up to 110 kilometres and is being developed by the Defence Research and Development Organization.

By the end of this month, trials of 3G services, would be conducted by the state owned PSU, MTNL in the national capital and further in December, the commercial launch of the same would take place. By the early months of the next year, the services would be available in Mumbai.

The initial 3G trials of MTNL will take place in the Connaught Place area. The core equipment necessary for the services has been acquired by the company and presently it is working on mobilizing the radio equipment.

New Delhi, Sept 13: A Conference of State Ministers of Animal Husbandry and Dairying will be convened here today to devise a strategy for accelerated growth in the livestock sector.

The conference will be inaugurated by Agriculture Minister, Sharad Pawar, and will be attended by the State Animal Husbandry and Dairy Development Ministers, concerned officers and veterinary and animal sciences experts.