New Delhi, Dec 9 (IANS): Amid heavy security deployed at the residence of India's first Chief of Defence Staff, General Bipin Rawat, at Kumarasami Kamraj Marg here, several VVIPs arrived to offer their condolences to the bereaved family.

In a tragic incident earlier on Wednesday, General Rawat (63), his wife Madhulika Rawat, and 11 others were killed after the IAF chopper they were travelling in crashed near Coonoor in Tamil Nadu.

General Rawat and his wife Madhulika Rawat are survived by their two daughters -- Kritika and Tarini.

After Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Indian Army chief M.M. Naravane visited the residence of General Rawat on Wednesday evening. Navy chief Admiral R. Hari Kumar also met the bereaved family to offer his condolences over the tragic incident.

Security was beefed up in and around the residence of General Rawat, with only a select few allowed entry into the house.

Rawat's family has been serving the Indian Army for four generations. His father Laxman Singh Rawat had served the Indian Army, and rose to the rank of Lieutenant-General.

His wife, Madhulika, was the President of the Army Wives' Welfare Association (AWWA). The AWWA is one of the largest NGOs working towards ensuring the welfare of wives, children, and dependents of Army personnel.

Madhulika worked for the welfare of Army widows, differently-abled children, cancer patients, and dependents of Army personnel.