Dhanbad: The two-day admission process for 50 MBBS seats at Patliputra Medical College and Hospital (PMCH) here began on Wednesday with 35 candidates short-listed by Jharkhand Combined Engineering Competitive Examination Board coming before the admission committee of the medical college.

The college, which has faced flak from the MCI for its teacher crisis, managed to retain its 50 seats after a lot of suspense last month, with the health department going up to the Supreme Court level.

Of its 50 seats, 10 seats were reserved for the central quota and the rest 40 under state quota, Ganesh Kumar, professor in charge of students at PMCH, said. Of the 40, 20 were for general category students, four for OBC, 10 for SC and six for ST, he added.

College principal Kameshwar Biswas said the aspirants, whose documents were verified, were admitted to the college and allotted hostels. A similar process will be held on Thursday. The new academic session will begin from August 1, he said.

The principal admitted they were still facing some 33 per cent shortage of teachers. "Though promotions were offered to assistant professors and associate professors to fill up vacancies at the senior level, more steps are being taken to appoint senior and junior resident doctors," Biswas said.

Students who secured admission on Wednesday appeared to be both aware of the teacher crisis and happy to have finally come a step closer to becoming doctors.

Tilaiya girl Sonali Pandey, who came with her father, said she secured 175th rank in the state quota and opted for PMCH as her first choice as it was closest to her home.

"It's just a three-hour train journey. My elder sister is pursuing her BTech from BIT-Sindri, so it will be easier for me," she said.

Dhanbad girl and daughter of a sub-inspector, Ritisha Kumar, who scored 186th state rank, said she was lucky to pursue medical education at her hometown but was slightly apprehensive about the MCI's dissatisfaction over the faculty crisis. Her batchmate Malti Murmu from Ghatshila seconded the "uncertainty" but added she secured 65th rank in her third attempt and was happy her dream of becoming a doctor was coming true.

Koderma resident Santosh Kumar Singh, who came for his daughter's admission to PMCH, admitted that as a parent he felt a bit insecure about PMCH. "But, what can we do except reposing full faith in the government?"