Beijing Facing Worst Smog Problem Saturday To Tuesday; Schools Closed, Vehicles Off The Street

Chinese capital Beijing witnessed eye-watering, throat-irritating smog Saturday with the second ever red alert in the city from whether watch dog, forcing almost half the cars off the roads and restricting factor as well as construction production.

Red alert is the top most warning of the four-tier system set up in 2012.

The new alert, second in December, to be in effect until Tuesday and the authorities have ordered closure of schools in Beijing and half the cars to remain off the road based on odd-even format. Outdoor smoke sources including barbecue grills too are forced to be banned.

In some parts of the city the levels of PM2.5 increased to as high as 303 on Saturday and are predicted to reach 500 in coming days.

PM2.5 is the smallest and deadliest airborne particles.

According to World Health Organization (WHO), the level 500 is twenty times more than the safe level considered.

Most of the people in Beijing are supporting the moves taken by the government as for long time smog problem had been ignored.

Beijing’s smog is largely blamed on coal burning power plants, industrial pollution and increasing number of vehicles.

China is the biggest emitter of carbon in the world.