The number of people missing after the flooded Hewa river wreaked havoc in Sankhuwasabha district on Saturday night has reached 21.

According to police, 18 people working at the under-construction Super Hewa Hydropower Project in Chainpur Municipality-4, two other people in Sabhapokhari Rural Municipality and one person from Nundhaki are missing.

Deputy Superintendent of Police Birendra Godar said it is yet to be known whether the workers moved to a safer location following the flood or were swept away by the river.

Two of the missing workers of the hydropower project came into police contact Sunday morning.

Preliminary investigation suggests the flood occurred after landslides at Chainpur Municipality-4 and Panchkhapan Municipality-9 blocked the river.

Meanwhile, the identity of a man who was found dead on the riverbanks in Panchkhapan Municipality-5 has been ascertained. The deceased has been identified as Santosh Rai of Panchkhapan-9, police said.