China issues ‘red alert’ as pollution levels soar: Shocking images 13 Photos . Updated: 09 Dec 2015, 04:18 PM IST Livemint While Beijing is in the spotlight, pollution is the bane of most developing nations with India, China, Bangladesh and Pakistan occupying most spots in the top 20 most polluted cities list 1/13Schools and construction sites were shut down in Beijing following its first ever ‘red alert’ which will affect the city for several days, say reports. An aerial view of Beijing that shows it enshrouded by smog. Reuters 2/13The thick smog has managed to keep motorists off the road. Beijing has also introduced road rationing, allowing cars with either odd or even numbered license plates to ply on any particular day. Reuters 3/13Water pollution severely affects marine life in China. This is a photo from Wuhan, the most populated city of central China. Reuters 4/13After Beijing issued the “red alert”, residents film the heavy smog at the Tiananmen Square on Wednesday morning. Last week, the city’s air quality index went ‘beyond index’ or above 500 as measured by the US Embassy. Reuters 5/13The visibility in the city also falls by early evening because of the thick layer of smog. Here, a building in Beijijng and a bright screen on it is barely visible through the smog. Reuters 6/13The poor air quality has increased the complaints of respiratory problems, mostly in children. As the pollution levels become unbearable, the commuters are forced to don safety masks when they are outside home.ReutersChina has equally polluted neighbours. India, for instance has 13 out of the top 20 most polluted cities in the world according to the recent WHO report, with Delhi topping the list. AP Bangladesh is also on the heels of China and India after being ranked the fourth most polluted country last year, with three of its cities—Dhaka, Narayanganj, Gazipur among top 25 cities with the worst air quality according to WHO. This is a photo of the Hazaribag tannery in Dhaka.Reuters The photo shows the scale of pollution in Karachi. Pakistan records the highest level overall of the 91 countries in the WHO air pollution database and three of its cities—Karachi, Rawalpindi and Peshawar made it to the top 20 most polluted cities in the recent WHO report. Reuters respiratory problems, mostly in children. As the pollution levels become unbearable, the commuters are forced to don safety masks when they are outside home.Reuters 7/13The poor air quality has increased the complaints of respiratory problems, mostly in children. As the pollution levels become unbearable, the commuters are forced to don safety masks when they are outside home.Reuters 8/13China has equally polluted neighbours. India, for instance has 13 out of the top 20 most polluted cities in the world according to the recent WHO report, with Delhi topping the list. AP 9/13Bangladesh is also on the heels of China and India after being ranked the fourth most polluted country last year, with three of its cities—Dhaka, Narayanganj, Gazipur among top 25 cities with the worst air quality according to WHO. This is a photo of the Hazaribag tannery in Dhaka.Reuters 10/13The photo shows the scale of pollution in Karachi. Pakistan records the highest level overall of the 91 countries in the WHO air pollution database and three of its cities—Karachi, Rawalpindi and Peshawar made it to the top 20 most polluted cities in the recent WHO report. Reuters 11/13China has equally polluted neighbours. India, for instance has 13 out of the top 20 most polluted cities in the world according to the recent WHO report, with Delhi topping the list. AP 12/13Bangladesh is also on the heels of China and India after being ranked the fourth most polluted country last year, with three of its cities—Dhaka, Narayanganj, Gazipur among top 25 cities with the worst air quality according to WHO. This is a photo of the Hazaribag tannery in Dhaka.Reuters 13/13The photo shows the scale of pollution in Karachi. Pakistan records the highest level overall of the 91 countries in the WHO air pollution database and three of its cities—Karachi, Rawalpindi and Peshawar made it to the top 20 most polluted cities in the recent WHO report. Reuters