( CNN ) -- A space rocket carrying communications equipment exploded soon after takeoff Saturday evening in India , a news agency reported . The unmanned rocket strayed from its flight path and broke into pieces , according to the Press Trust of India . Video of the incident showed huge plumes of white and copper-colored smoke streaming across the sky . CNN 's sister network , CNN-IBN , reported that the rocket lifted off from the Satish Dhawan Space Center in Sriharikota . Its launch was originally scheduled for December 20 , but had been postponed because of an engine leak , CNN-IBN said . It was not immediately clear what caused the failure , which the Press Trust called a setback to India 's space program .
An unmanned rocket carrying communications equipment exploded , media reports . The rocket 's launch had been delayed due to an engine leak , according to CNN 's sister network . There was no immediately indication as to what caused the launch 's failure .