'In view of the panic situation, today we have opened 15 health centres around the city to screen the people who turn up there. Only after the medical officer recommends, we shall admit them for further tests and treatment,' Pardeshi told IANS.

While long queues were reported at all the 15 screening centres, the exact numbers of people screened will be available late evening, he said.

The swine flu virus continued to spread in the state with 30 new cases, including an Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer, reported till Thursday morning, raising the total number to 172, a senior health official said.

'Nine new cases have been detected in Pune, and four in Mumbai, including a senior civil servant,' Swine Flu Control Room head Pradeep Awate told IANS.

Among those who tested positive is state Excise Commissioner I.S. Chahal, he said. Chahal had returned from Britain recently and complained of swine flu-like symptoms and was tested positive at the Kasturba Hospital late Wednesday night.

In Pune, two more girls from the St. Annes High School - where Reeda studied - have tested positive, while another girl has been quarantined in the Naidu Hospital for tests for suspected H1N1, Awate added.

Health authorities have asked the school to shut down for a week.

Of the total 172 cases currently being handled by the state health authorities, Pune has 118, Mumbai 26, Panchgani 25, Thane two and Nashik one, Awate said.

Satara District Collector Vikas Deshmukh said the situation in the popular hill station of Panchgani is under control.

'We have already combed all the 46 schools, including the 16 residential public schools, in Panchgani for suspected cases. In the main affected school, St. Peters High School, a special quarantine room has been set up, and similar rooms are in readiness in other schools,' Deshmukh told IANS Thursday morning after his fourth inspection trip in the past 10 days.