HALIFAX, CANADA – A community fundraiser has shed light on the tragic story of a young woman found dead in a Walmart bakery’s walk-in oven in Canada. The victim, identified as 19-year-old Gursimran Kaur, was discovered by her mother, who also worked at the store, according to a fundraiser organized by the Maritime Sikh Society.
The somber incident occurred on the night of October 19, when Halifax Regional Police responded to a call at the Walmart on Mumford Road, where they found Kaur’s body inside the bakery department’s large walk-in oven. The teen and her mother had been employed at the Walmart location for two years, as noted in the community-organized fundraiser.
Kaur’s mother reported panic setting in after she was unable to locate her daughter for an hour, searching the store and unsuccessfully attempting to contact her by phone. The horror unfolded when she opened the oven doors herself.
The police have yet to determine the cause and manner of Kaur’s death, and the investigation remains ongoing. Kaur, along with her mother, moved to Canada from India while her father and brother remained there. Efforts by the Maritime Sikh Society are underway to bring them to Canada.
The heart-rending story has led to an outpouring of community support, with the fundraiser collecting over 75,000 Canadian dollars for Kaur’s family. As the community rallies around the bereaved family, Walmart has temporarily closed the store and halted operations at the bakery, following orders from the Nova Scotia Department of Labour, Skills and Immigration, which is scrutinizing a specific piece of equipment.
A spokesperson for Walmart expressed profound sadness over the incident, emphasizing the company’s commitment to supporting its employees during this difficult time.