Coimbatore (PTI): Three elephants, including a pregnant one, were killed when a speeding train hit them at Kurumbapalayam on the city outskirts in the wee hours on Monday.

A herd of four elephants was crossing the railway track when the accident occurred, police said.

The pregnant elephant and two other pachyderms died on the spot, they said, adding another elephant in the herd escaped unhurt.

Three empty bogies of the train, which were taken out of a workshop after cleaning, derailed after hitting the elephants.

Senior district, police and forest officials have rushed to the spot, they said.