Exactly at 2.38 p.m., the rocket -- Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle-C25 (PSLV-C25) --standing around 44 metres tall and weighing around 320 tonnes hurtled towards the heavens with orange flames fiercely burning at its tail.

This photograph taken on October 30, 2013 shows Indian personnel (bottom) at the launch pad of the PSLV-C25 launch vehicle, carrying the Mars Orbiter probe. Pic: AFP