A tragic event unfolded at a Walmart store in Halifax, Nova Scotia, as a 19-year-old employee was discovered dead inside a walk-in bakery oven. The incident sparked a comprehensive investigation involving multiple departments, leading to the store’s temporary shutdown.

On Saturday evening, October 19, around 9:30 p.m. local time, police were called to the Walmart store on Mumford Road following reports of an unexpected death. On arrival, they found the young woman’s body inside a large walk-in oven in the bakery section of the store.

The deceased was identified as Gursimran Kaur, 19. Her mother, also a Walmart employee, discovered her daughter’s charred remains after searching for over an hour.

Kaur was a part of the local Sikh community. The Maritime Sikh Society reported that she had moved from the UK to Canada with her mother around two to three years ago. The same society is now making arrangements to bring immediate family members from India.

“The investigation is complex and involves several partner agencies. An investigation of this nature may take a significant amount of time,”stated a release from Halifax Regional Police.

The Department of Labour, Skills, and Immigration in Nova Scotia has issued a stop-work order for the bakery and one specific piece of equipment at the store. The extensive investigation involves the Occupational Health and Safety department and the Nova Scotia Medical Examiner Service to establish the cause and manner of death.

A spokesperson for Walmart expressed the company’s grief, stating that Walmart is “heartbroken” and that its “deepest thoughts are with our associates and their families.” The company emphasized its focus on ensuring the well-being of its associates and providing the support they need.

As the investigation continues, the store has been closed for four days. Walmart is offering on-site support to its employees, including grief counseling and access to virtual care services.

Walk-in ovens, typically used in large-scale baking operations, often require special product-handling equipment. Despite being termed “walk-in,” some models may not have ample space for comfortable entry, especially when filled with equipment and baked goods.

The investigators have requested the public’s cooperation by asking them to avoid sharing speculative information on social media platforms, citing potential negative impacts on the victim’s family, colleagues, and loved ones.

In response to this tragic incident, the community has started a GoFundMe campaign to cover funeral expenses and facilitate the travel of family members from India for the final rites. The campaign surpassed its $50,000 target within 10 hours and has currently raised around $130,000.