Details regarding Hell in Hinduism are found in the Puranas
especially the Garuda Purana. Tamisram Hell is mainly used to punish those
people who rob others of their wealth, wives and children. In the Tamisram Hell,
people are bound with ropes by attendants of Yama and beaten till they faint.
After they recover their senses, the beating is repeated.
Those who try to escape are bound and pushed again into the
hell.
This concept of heaven and hell in Hindu tradition is based
on Puranas. Such stories and incidents in Puranas are meant to keep human
beings disciplined on earth.
Upanishads state that hell and heaven are on earth and lucky
are those who realize the true self and attain bliss here.