Pune, Aug 12 - A 48-year-old driver died of swine flu Wednesday afternoon, as the Sassoon Hospital here registered fifth death of the day from the H1N1 virus since early morning, taking India's toll to 17.

Gautam Shelar was admitted to the hospital, which has been handling very serious cases of swine flu here, in a critical condition three-four days ago and died around 4.45 p.m., a Maharashtra Swine Flu Control Room official said.

This was the sixth death in Maharashtra Wednesday. For Pune that has recorded the highest number of H1N1 deaths in the country, Shelar was the 10th victim.

Pune recorded India's first swine flu death when 14-year-old Reeda Shaikh died Aug 3.

Meanwhile, at least four patients were in serious condition at the hospital, Pune District Collector Chandrakant Dalvi told reporters.

In Mumbai's Hiranandani Hospital, two swine flu patients were in serious condition.