PUNE, Aug 10 (PTI): The Maharashtra government on Monday ordered closure of schools and colleges in Pune, where swine flu has claimed three lives so far. 

"All schools, colleges and private coaching classes in Pune and neighbouring Pimpri-Chinchwad would remain closed for seven days," district guardian minister Ajit Pawar told reporters here.

"We will compensate for the gap by reducing Diwali holidays by a week," he said.

Schools and colleges should use the week's period to get their premises disinfected and sterilised, Pawar said.

On the three H1N1 deaths in Pune, Pawar said, "Had the patients been given immediate treatment, they could have been saved. They were admitted to the government hospitals very late, after first going to private hospitals."

Three swine flu patients in Pune's Sassoon hospital are in critical condition, he said.

So far, 778 persons have been admitted to various hospitals in Pune, of which 135 tested positive for H1N1 virus have been discharged after treatment, he added.