Pune, Aug 5 - Two days after a schoolgirl succumbed to influenza A(H1N1) in this Maharashtra city, hundreds of people - young and old - Wednesday thronged the only swine flu testing centre here, leading to chaos at the hospital.

Serpentine queues of people wearing handgloves and sergical masks were seen outside the Naidu Hospital. A scuffle broke out in the crowd as people jostled to get themselves checked by doctors to prevent the disease.

'Yes, hundreds of people came to our hospital. Since Tuesday evening, there is a rush,' said Sanjay Walehker, an official at the epidemic helpline in the Naidu Hospital.

'Till afternoon today, more than 500 people have visited us. They are not patients but are scared of swine flu. Most of them are suffering from normal flu as it is the rainy season. They voluntarily came for testing,' Walehker told IANS.

Another official at the hospital said there was chaos in the morning as the hospital authorities were not prepared to handle such a huge number of people. Nurses, paramedics and doctors were swamped by patients.

'We have now deployed around 15 doctors to take care of the voluntary patients,' the official said.

Police were also called in to control the crowds outside the hospital. Policemen were seen patrolling the streets leading to the hospital, wearing masks and handgloves.

Rida Shaikh, 14, died at the Jehangir Hospital in Pune Monday. She was suffering from the influenza A(H1N1) for almost a fortnight, but was not diagnosed on time.