Media kept at bay for launch of South Asia Satellite

The launch of the South Asia Satellite took place today away from the media glare, with journalists kept at bay and a reticent ISRO keeping details of the mission and the programme under wraps.
With no live telecast of the launch event on national broadcaster Doordarshan, cryptic clues about thelaunch timing and media personnel being restricted from thespaceport, the last 24 hours leading to the launch of GSAT-9by the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle GSLV-F09 was a mystery to journalists covering the event.
ISRO sources said they were unaware about the reasons for deviations from practices followed during the launch, and were only following the instructions.

Visuals captured far away from the site were the only source of confirmation of the lift off.
The successful launch was announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a tweet.