While heavy frost has spoiled the crops in the region, the government has changed the school timings in all government schools for senior class students and holidays have been declared in junior schools.

Meanwhile, the traders in the city have also been suffering due to the fall in the mecury, as most of the markets remained deserted due to the extreme cold conditions.

People shivered under cold climatic conditions in many areas in and around Patiala as cold winds swept most part of the day. “I have never seen such a winter in Patiala. The night temperature from the past few days is nearly 1 degree Celsius,” said OP Bansal, a retired engineer.

“I had to discontinue my morning walks due to the cold conditions,” he added.