New Delhi, Sep 10 - Nine more people - five in Maharashtra and four in Karnataka - died of swine flu in India Thursday, taking the toll from the virus in the country to 154, health authorities said here.

As the swine flu spreads, the union health ministry is likely to allow restricted sales of influenza A (H1N1) preventive drug Tamiflu to general public.

'The health secretary is holding a meeting of concerned stakeholders Friday and a decision on the restricted sale is likely by the evening,' a ministry official told IANS, requesting anonymity.

The official said that selected chemists, who hold licence to sell H-level drugs, may be allowed to sell Tamiflu.

In Maharashtra, the five deaths were reported from Ahmednagar, Satara, Raigad and Solapur. With this, the toll in the state has gone up to 72 - the highest in the country.

In Karnataka, deaths were reported from Bijapur, Bangalore, Bagalkot and Davangere. With the four deaths, the total number of people who have succumbed to the virus in this southern state has risen to 49 - the second highest in India.