A grieving mother who found her daughter’s “charred remains” in the walk-in oven of the Walmart where they both worked is left “shattered and in agony” by the discovery.
Gursimran Kaur, 19, tragically died Saturday evening at the Halifax superstore in Nova Scotia while on duty with her mother.
‘The mother is devastated. She is in psychological pain,” said Balbir Singh, secretary of the Maritime Sikh Society CTV News.
‘She definitely needs help and support… she’s still in a very bad state of mind, but she’s getting all the guidance she can.’
Gursimran Kaur, 19, tragically died Saturday evening at the Halifax superstore where she worked in Nova Scotia
The duo started working together at Walmart two years ago, shortly after arriving from India to start a new life.
Friends of the mother and daughter have shared disturbing details about Kaur’s death and her mother’s involvement in finding her remains.
Kaur’s mother looked for her through the store when she entered the bakery section.
There, a colleague noticed ‘leakage’ coming from the walk-in oven.
“Imagine the horror her mother experienced – opening the oven herself,” a family spokesperson said in a speech. GoFundMe appeal.
While the exact brand of the oven involved in the incident has not yet been revealed, other Walmart stores in the United States are known to have installed ovens like the one in the photo.
“As you all know, her charred remains were found after a few hours in the bakery’s walk-in oven.”
Kaur’s mother is reportedly ‘traumatised’ by the discovery.
“The suffering of this family is unimaginable and indescribable,” the Maritime Sikh Society Executive said in the appeal.
She is described as a “vigilant mother who breathes for the happiness of her child.”
Kaur and her mother were highly regarded members of the Sikh community in Nova Scotia.
The duo started working together at Walmart two years ago, shortly after arriving from India in search of new opportunities
Her father and brother remained in India, but efforts are now being made to get them both to Canada.
Once Kaur’s remains are released by the medical examiner’s office, a religious ceremony will be held in her honor.
Officials have not formally released details about her cause of death and an investigation into the tragedy is ongoing.
A call to first responders early this week shed light on the tragedy, revealing that they were responding to an incident involving a woman was locked in an oven in the bakery.’
‘Oven is on. I’m not sure if the staff can turn it off,” the control room officer warned.
It has now been revealed that Kaur’s mother panicked when she realized the teenager had not been seen at the workplace for more than an hour.
“She asked around, but everyone moved aside thinking she might be helping a customer somewhere,” the call showed.
After the tragedy, mourners flocked to the supermarket to lay flowers and pay tribute to the victim and her family.
‘Her telephone was not reachable. Mom panicked because it was unusual for her to turn off her phone during the day. She has contacted the local property manager for assistance.”
Walmart officials said in a statement ‘we are heartbroken and our deepest thoughts are with our associate and their family. We extend our sincere condolences to those closest to them.
‘We are also supporting our staff during this incredibly difficult time and have provided 24/7 virtual care and on-site support, including grief counselling.’
The staff scheduled this week will continue to be paid despite the store closures. The store will remain closed until further notice.
Kaur is remembered as a “beautiful girl who came to Canada with big dreams.”