Pune, Aug 10 - In a drastic measure to curb the swine flu pandemic that has already killed three people in this city, the Maharashtra government Monday decided to shut down schools and businesses for periods ranging from three to seven days in the entire Pune-Pimpri-Chinchwad area.

All educational institutions shall be shut down till Aug 17 in Pune, the state's IT capital, and the twin cities of Pimpri-Chinchwad, Pune Guardian Minister Ajit Pawar said in the afternoon.

Similarly, malls where huge crowds gather, increasing the risk of swine flu, shall remain shut for a week.

Multiplexes and cinema halls shall be closed for the next three days, he said.

'The decision came in the wake of a high-level meeting organised by Chief Minister Ashok Chavan, authorising the district administrations to take appropriate steps in the matter,' Ajit Pawar told reporters.

Following this, Pawar held a meeting of the district's top civil, police, health and education officials.