Beijing revealed its first red alert
for smog on Tuesday morning. And this forced to close lots of factories
and impose lots of restrictions to keep half the city's vehicles off the
roads. The alert was passed and weather forecasting authorities have
predicted three consecutive days of severe smog.
It
was said that there was some improvement in Beijing's air over the past
year. But the safe level has been breached and now it has turned out to
be an embarrassment for the Government. A grey soupy haze subsumed
Beijing's unique landmarks and residents immediately rushed to indoors.
Schools
were closed at once. An officer from Beijing said, "This is what
modern life is all about. We often look for development and now we just
pay the price. Schools were closed and they were also advised to have
some good air filtration systems."
Education
commission in Beijing has ordered to close all the schools till
Thursday. Right now the readings of smog are said to be PM 2.5 particles
above 300 micrograms per cubic meter. The WHO (world Health
Organization) has designated the safety level and now Beijing is at
risk.