In the Canadian city of Halifax, a 19-year-old Sikh woman was found dead in a walk-in oven in the bakery department of a Walmart store, police in eastern Canada confirmed.

Halifax Regional Police (HRP) said they received a call about a death on Saturday, which led to the store being evacuated. Local media reports that the deceased woman has been identified as a member of the Sikh community who recently relocated to Canada with her mother.

In conversation with Global NewsWalmart said it was cooperating with police in the investigation and “out of respect for the employee and his family, we cannot provide any additional information.”

This incident came amid heightened tensions between India and Canada after both countries recalled six of their diplomats. The controversy arose after New Delhi criticized Ottawa for failing to provide evidence of India's involvement in the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar and for failing to take action against separatist elements in Canada.

What happened?

The 19-year-old Sikh woman was found in a walk-in oven at the Walmart store, police said. According to Halifax police, the business has remained closed since then while the investigation continues.

A 911 call made last Saturday described the woman as being “trapped” in the oven. However, the oven had no locking mechanism, CBC reports citing sources. Police responded to the call around 9:30 p.m. and described the incident as a “sudden death.” Authorities have not indicated that foul play is suspected at this time.

Canada's Ministry of Labor, Skills and Immigration has also issued a stop-work order for the bakery and “one piece of equipment.” CTV News reported.

Balbir Singh, Secretary, Maritime Sikh Society, said CBC News“It is a truly tragic incident and everyone is deeply hurt by this and we await the police investigation.”

He added: “We would like to know what happened to this young woman.”

Accordingly The globe And postthe woman had recently moved to Canada from India.

How did she die?

Authorities have not yet confirmed the woman's cause or manner of death and have not publicly released her name.

Halifax Regional Police Officer Martin Cromwell said police were aware of online speculation surrounding the incident. “The investigation is complex,” he said.

“We understand that the public is involved and we just wanted to encourage the public to be patient in our investigation and to ensure that family members and colleagues are involved.”

Cromwell added that Halifax police are cooperating with relevant authorities as part of the ongoing investigation.

Meanwhile, the Nova Scotia coroner is working to determine the cause of death, while the province's Ministry of Health and Safety is also involved in the investigation.

Walk-in ovens, commonly referred to as cabinet or batch ovens, are used for bulk baking, curing or drying and are typically found in large-scale bakeries such as supermarkets.

What did Walmart say about the incident?

Amanda Moss, a spokeswoman for Walmart Canada, said the company was deeply saddened by the employee's death. In a statement about it CBS NewsMoss mentioned that the store will remain closed until further notice to allow for the investigation and to give employees time to process the situation.

“We are heartbroken and our deepest thoughts are with our employee and his family. Our focus remains on looking after our people and ensuring they have the support they need,” she said.

She told it too CBC that Walmart had provided virtual and on-site support, including grief counseling, to employees.

Meanwhile, police urged the public to “pay attention to sharing speculative information on social media.”

What happens next in this case?

Several Halifax residents left flowers and notes outside the Walmart store as a tribute to the late employee.

Balbir Singh said psychological counseling was being offered to the woman's mother and efforts were continuing to bring other immediate family members from India. He added that a service would be held in Halifax once the body had been released by the coroner.

When asked about the mystery surrounding the woman's death, Singh clarified that it was up to the police and occupational safety investigators to resolve the incident.

“It’s all rumors on social media,” he said CBC. “We don't know the details… There should be something from the police that will put an end to all the rumors.”

Police have not yet confirmed whether the circumstances of the woman's death are criminal in nature.