Tragic discovery made by mother at Halifax Walmart
A tragic incident unfolded at a Halifax, Nova Scotia Walmart when 19-year-old Gursimran Kaur was found dead inside a walk-in bakery oven. In a heartbreaking turn of events, it was her own mother who discovered her remains, according to family members.
The mother and daughter had worked together at the same Walmart superstore for the past two years. On Saturday night, Gursimran Kaur’s mother found her “charred remains” in the large oven after she hadn’t heard from her daughter for more than an hour, a family GoFundMe page revealed.
Coworkers unaware of the tragedy
Gursimran Kaur’s coworkers initially thought she was busy assisting a customer in the store. However, concern grew when she stopped responding to phone calls, which was unlike her, leading her mother to begin searching the store. As time passed, panic set in. Another staff member noticed something unusual — “leakage” coming from the area around the walk-in oven. When Kaur’s mother opened the oven door, she was confronted with the devastating discovery.
“Imagine the horror that her mother experienced who herself opened the oven,” a family spokesperson shared on the fundraiser page.
Investigation underway, criminality unclear
The Halifax Regional Police have launched an investigation into the circumstances of Kaur’s death. However, it remains unclear if foul play or criminal activity is suspected. “The investigation is ongoing. We’re still working with Occupational Health and Safety and the Medical Examiner’s office,” Constable Martin Cromwell of the Halifax Regional Police said in a phone interview on Thursday. Cromwell was unable to provide a timeline for when more information might become available.
Walmart’s response and community support
Walmart Canada, which has yet to issue a detailed comment, previously stated that it is cooperating with authorities. “Out of respect for the associate and their family, we cannot provide any additional information,” a spokesperson said. The company has provided grief counseling and virtual support for staff following the incident.
A vigil has formed outside the closed Walmart in Halifax, where community members have gathered to mourn Kaur’s tragic death.
Family’s struggle and community grief
Gursimran Kaur was a member of the local Sikh community and had only been living in Canada for a few years. Her father and brother, who are in India, are working to travel to Canada during this difficult time, according to the family’s GoFundMe page.
“It’s pretty distressing, you know, young people come here with all kinds of hopes and dreams, and they’re working hard and then this is what happens,” said Satnam Singh Randhawa, chair of the Maritime Sikh Society board, in a statement to CBC News.
As the investigation continues, Gursimran Kaur’s family and the local community are left grieving a devastating loss that has shocked and saddened many across the region.