Chandigarh, April 19 (IANS): The unseasonal rainfall in the month of March this year in Haryana has been the highest in the past 100 years.

State government officials pointed this out to a central team which visited the state to assess the damage to crops due to the rainfall.

"Against the average normal rainfall of 11 mm in the month of March, the average rainfall in the state was 77 mm this time. This is a record in the last 100 years. Rain and hailstorms during April caused further damage to standing as well as harvested crop lying in the fields," an official spokesman said here on Sunday.

Haryana chief secretary D.S. Dhesi has pointed out to the central team that the unprecedented rain, accompanied by strong winds and hailstorms in March led to extensive damage to standing crops, mainly wheat and mustard.

"The problem got further aggravated with the rain and hailstorm in the month of April as well," the spokesman added.

The Haryana government has ordered 'girdawri' (revenue assessment of crop damage) to work out the compensation to affected farmers.