New Delhi, Dec 19 (IANS) At least 12 people died of swine flu in India Saturday, taking the total number of casualties in the country due to Influenza A (H1N1) to 780, health officials said.
There were also 346 fresh cases of the virus reported throughout India Saturday.

Of the 12 deaths, three each were in Chandigarh and Madhya Pradesh, two each in Haryana and Rajasthan and one each in Punjab and Maharashtra, the officials said.

Though details of all the deaths were not available, in Chandigarh the casualties have been identified as Vicky (20), Harpal Singh (25) and Gurmail Singh (45). All three died at the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER).

Three more people, including a doctor, have also tested positive for swine flu in Chandigarh.

“We collected the nasal and throat swab samples of these patients yesterday (Friday) and their reports have come positive,” said G.C. Bansal, the union territory’s officiating nodal officer for swine flu.

Another swine flu death was reported in a hospital in neighbouring Mohali town. “The victim was a 26-year-old man. He died on Friday evening. So far four people have died due to this infection in Mohali,” a health official said.

In the national capital, at least 175 more people were found infected with H1N1 Saturday. Besides, 39 cases were detected in Uttar Pradesh, 33 in Maharashtra and 30 each in Gujarat and Rajasthan.