Indian-origin teen Gursimran Kaur found dead in Walmart oven in Canada

More than Rs 1 crore has been raised for the family of a 19-year-old Sikh woman who was found dead inside a walk-in oven of the Walmart store’s bakery department in Canada’s Halifax city.

Indian-origin teenager Gursimran Kaur was employed at the Walmart store and was found burned to death in the walk-in oven on Saturday (October 19).

Halifax Regional Police (HRP) said they were called to a sudden death at the Walmart at 6990 Mumford Road around 9:30 pm on Saturday. Her body was found in a walk-in oven, police said.

Also read: Walmart lays off hundreds of employees and mandates relocation for others

Investigation underway

To support Gursimran’s family, the Maritime Sikh Society organised a fundraiser on the GoFundMe website. The society has raised Canadian dollars 194,949 (About Rs 1.18 crore).

“It’s very sad for us, for her family as well, because she came for a better future and she lost her life,” said Anmolpreet Singh, with the Maritime Sikh Society.

She had recently moved to Canada from India, The Globe and Mail newspaper said. The store has remained closed since Saturday night while the investigation is ongoing. It was still not clear how she entered the walk-in oven.

Also watch: India-Canada stalemate: Will it impact Indians in Canada?

“Gursimran and her mother both worked at Walmart for the last two years. That evening, like any watchful mother who breathed for her child's happiness, Gursimran's mother tried to locate her after not seeing her for one hour. She asked around, but everyone brushed her aside thinking that she may be somewhere helping a customer, Walmart is a superstore after all! Her phone was not reachable,” Maritime Sikh Society said.

“Mother started panicking as it was unusual for her to switch her phone off during the day. She reached out to the onsite admin for help. As you all know now, her charred remains were found inside the walk-in oven in the Bakery after a few hours,” it added.

Father and brother in India

"Both, Gursimran's father and brother are in India and we are trying to get them here as soon as possible. This family's sufferings are unimaginable and indescribable. They need your support to get through this horrific time," it further said.

Nova Scotia’s medical examiner is working to determine the cause of death, and the province’s Department of Health and Safety is taking part in the investigation.

Walk-in ovens, also referred to as cabinet or batch ovens, allow for curing, drying, or baking in batches using wheeled racks or carts. They are often found in large-volume bakeries in places such as supermarkets.

In a statement, Walmart Canada said the company is heartbroken and their thoughts are with the woman’s family.

(With agency inputs)