Many held after India party raid

Rave parties have caught on in some Indian cities

Police in the Indian city of Mumbai have detained more than 250 people in connection with drug-related offences after a raid on a party, officials say.

Police say they seized banned drugs such as cannabis, ecstasy and LSD.

All the detained people, including at least 38 women, have been sent for a medical check-up at hospital.

They include one Israeli national. In March 2007, a similar party was raided near the city of Pune and nearly 200 people were detained.

The Anti Narcotics cell of Mumbai (Bombay) police say that they raided the location following a tip-off from informers.

The party was organised at theBombay 72 Degree East club in Juhu, an affluent suburb in the west of Mumbai.

Of those detained, eight were formally arrested. Police say those arrested are likely to be charged for possession, consumption and selling of narcotic substances.

More people may be charged for consumption-related offences after medical test results, police say.

The BBC's Prachi Pinglay in Mumbai says that rave parties are not unusual in Indian cities.

Invitees to such parties are usually informed of the venue and the time via a phone text message or the internet.