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Walmart is removing the commercial oven from its Halifax store where the remains of a young employee were discovered last month, but investigators still aren’t saying what led to Gursimran Kaur’s death.

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The 19-year-old’s body was discovered on October 19 by her mother, who also worked at the same Walmart on Mumford Road. Kaur and her mother, originally from India, moved to Canada about three years ago.

“They’re in a terrible situation,” Rimple Dhunna, a local real estate agent, said of the deceased teen’s family, whom he visited earlier this week.

“Her daughter died, and they haven’t even gotten an answer from the police or investigators (about) what’s going on, how did this happen, all of these questions. They are devastated.

Kaur’s family is tormented by the question: how did she die?

“I was at their house last night, but no one knows yet,” Dhunna said Wednesday.

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Halifax Regional Police are remaining tight-lipped about their investigation into Kaur’s death.

“What I can tell you at this point is that the investigation is still open and our investigators are still working diligently on this case,” said Const. Martin Cromwell, who speaks on behalf of the force, said in an email.

“At this time we have no further updates or details to provide to the public.”

The Nova Scotia Department of Labour, Skills and Immigration lifted a work stoppage order on October 28 for Walmart Bakery and Commercial Oven. But the investigation into Kaur’s death remains ongoing.

“This is still an active investigation for us,” said Sarah MacNeil, a department spokeswoman.

Asked if investigators had concluded that Kaur’s death was an accident or if something else caused her death, MacNeil said: “We will not be able to release such details at this time, as the investigation is still ongoing. »

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She declined to provide a copy of the stop-work order issued Oct. 22 or say how many investigators are working on the case. “A copy of the stop work order and the number of department investigators working on the Mumford Road Walmart case cannot be shared at this time as this is an ongoing investigation.”

Walmart confirmed Wednesday that the oven where Kaur was found was being removed.

“This is an extremely sad and difficult situation,” Walmart spokeswoman Amanda Moss said in an email.

“Oven removal has always been part of the standard renovation program we implement across the country. Now that the stop work order has been lifted by the Department of Labor, the oven will be removed from this store and will no longer be used.

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In a letter to employees on October 27, Walmart said the store would be closed for at least another week. But the company has not announced a reopening date.

“Our store remains closed until further notice,” Moss said Wednesday.

Kaur was part of the Sikh community and had worked at the Walmart store for a few years.

A call for crowdfunding organized by the Maritime Sikh Society raised about $190,000 to help the family bring Kaur’s father and brother from India, where they were when she died.

“They are here now,” Dhunna said.

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